Public urged to have heart checkup

CEBU, Philippines — The leading causes of death in the country remain diseases of the heart, according to the national statistics data.

The Philippine Heart Association is encouraging everyone including the Cebuanos to have a checkup before it’s too late.

The PHA is holding its 50th anniversary with a Heart Fair at SM Cebu Seaside today from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.

Cebu is the centerpiece of the historic commemoration and major activities offered for free.

This is an opportunity for Cebuanos to grab the opportunity to be checked for free on risk factor screenings.

A hands-only CPR training will also be done.

The PHA recommends at least one member of each household to be able to do CPR for emergency purposes.

Aside from that, the “Bawas Kilo, Bawat Metro” walking workout designed by celebrity fitness coaches Jim and Toni Saret, who are also the PHA Healthy Lifestyle 52100 ambassadors, will also be launched.

A booth exhibit and poster-making contest complete the activities today.

Participants will be led by 200 members of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated, 30 members of the Philippine National Police, 28 members of the Bureau of Fire Protection, 30 nursing students and barangay health workers.

Walk-in “patients” and mall habitués/promenaders are welcome to join the activities.

PHA felt that after inactivity for several years into the Covid-19 pandemic, it is now a time for “realization, regeneration and digitalization”.

The month of February is the country’s Heart Month.

This declared to encourage public support advocacy of promoting cardiovascular health and wellness with the PHA, the lead agency of the celebration, with the Department of Health as partner. — GMR (FREEMAN)