Recommendations:

Based on the results of the program review, we came up with the following

recommendations that can be implemented as interventions that target the whole

population and high- risk individuals. Not all of these recommendations may be

considered priority considering the limited LGU resources in Dauin. But please

factor in these recommendations in your future plans for municipality.

Full adaptation and implementation of the Healthy Lifestyle program through:

1)  Promoting Healthy Lifestyle

The goal of promoting healthy lifestyle is the practice of the following behaviors:

  Engaging in regular physical activity 

  Having a healthy diet and eating more fruits and vegetables 

  Avoiding tobacco and alcohol use

Promoting healthy lifestyle supports personal and social development through thefollowing activities:

  Develop information, education and communication (IEC) materialsthat will improve knowledge and behavior of the target population on

healthy lifestyle.

  Conduct advocacy campaigns and activities among identified partnerswho have direct impact or influence to preventing and controlling NCDs, e.g. education, agriculture, private sector, etc. 

  Coordinate with different community groups –  youth, informal sector,sports clubs, civic organizations where healthy lifestyle can  be

integrated in their activities and regular meetings 

  Convene barangay officials to cascade the healthy lifestyle promotioninitiatives down to the community level  Implement healthy settings,

 primarily healthy workplaces and health-promoting schools, for

 promotion of healthy lifestyle

2)  Building Healthy Public Policies and Supportive Environments

The main goals of public health policy for NCD prevention and control are:

  Improve the health of the population, especially the most disadvantaged

  Respond to needs and expectations of people who have chronic diseases

  Provide financial protection against the costs of ill-health

Building healthy public policy requires diverse but complementary approaches, such as

legislation, fiscal measures, taxation, and organizational change. This can be done

through the following:

 

  Develop or adopt policies that support local NCD prevention andcontrol:

Local ordinances to implement RA  9211, specifically,

 banning of smoking  in public places, schools, amusement parksfrequented by children, workplaces, government buildings, hospitals;

regulation of sale of cigarettes among minors; and banning of

advertisements of tobacco products in the community

Local ordinances or resolutions enjoining the communities,

workers and children to join exercise programs

School policies to support smoke-free, alcohol-free, drug-free

and sports-oriented schools to promote health and well-being of students,

faculty and other school personnel; provision of healthy foods in the

school canteen and banning of foods that are deemed “unhealthy;” 

  Orient stakeholders regarding impact of transport design to physical activity of the population

  Encourage LGU to build parks and areas for recreation and physical activity, e.g. bicycle lanes, walk pathways, etc

  Organize community activities to promote healthy diet and

 physical activity

  Regularly monitor compliance to the regulations and consistentlyadminister agreed-upon penalties to those found not complying to

the regulations

3)  Establishing Coalitions and Partnerships 

Coalition and partnerships bring together different parties to achieve shared

goals on NCD prevention and control. Strengthening partnerships within thehealth sector is crucial, but it is also necessary to reach out to other key players

and engage in intersectoral action as the underlying causes  of

noncommunicable diseases lie outside the health sector.

  The health sector should provide the leadership for establishing coalitionsand partnerships at all levels of governance.

  LGUs need to engage potential partners including those outside the healthsector to participate in the implementation of the local NCD preventionand control program

  LGUs can establish a local coalition to facilitate multisectoral activities.They can review existing committees that can serve as the coordinating

 body.

4)  Making Health Services Available and Accessible

The health care needs of individuals vary according to the presence or absence of risk

 

factors and the severity of their health conditions. Specific health care procedures and

services are organized into the following categories: (1) risk factor assessment, (2)

lifestyle modification, (3) screening and diagnosis of NCDs, (4) management of major NCDs, and (5) rehabilitation; and (6) palliative care. To make health services available

and accessible, the following may be used:

  Ensure availability of package of interventions in the local health facilities

  Make available affordable medications 

  Adopt the Risk Assessment tool in all health facilities 

  Adopt and comply with DOH-endorsed clinical practice guidelines 

  Strengthen referral systems among health facilities 

  Organize support groups, e.g. obesity and diabetes clubs, cancer support,etc

5)  Strengthening Program ManagementTo ensure the effective and efficient implementation of NCD prevention and

control, the following are essential: (1) training/ capacity building ,  (2)

supervision, (3) surveillance, monitoring and evaluation. These are essential in

ensuring a unified direction of efforts, maximizing outcomes given limitedresources, and instilling an open, coordinative and participative spirit among

stakeholders. To further strengthen the program management, the following can

 be done:

  Collect and analyze data using DOH-prescribed monitoring and evaluationtools  Conduct semi-annual program review

  Disseminate results of monitoring and evaluation

  Submit accomplishment reports

  Document good practices in the implementation of the program

  Utilize results in subsequent planning and policy and programdevelopment

6)  Ensuring Sustainable Health Care FinancingChronic NCDs are a major cause and a huge economic burden to individuals,

their families and society. They cause disability, premature deaths and undermine

the economic development of the country. To ensure stable financing, thefollowing can be implemented:

  Advocate for LGUs to increase budget allocation for NCD prevention andcontrol

  Conduct resource generation from development agencies, private sectorsand other partners

  Expand PhilHealth membership for the support of some clinical packages

 

in NCD

  Design a local financing scheme as needed and develop correspondingguidelines and protocols for its implementation

  Monitor the collection and utilization of finances to ensure that these are prioritized for promoting healthy lifestyle

Since noncommunicable diseases will likely persist as a major public health

 problem brought about by globalization, urbanization and continued exposure to anduptake of unhealthy lifestyles by the population, it is thus important that the momentum

of relevant and productive work be sustained by the health sector and other key

stakeholders. Noncommunicable diseases should continue to be included in the healthand development agenda of national and local governance.

Promoting healthy lifestyle is geared towards the process of enabling people to

increase control over their health and to improve their health behaviors in relation to prevention and control of NCDs. It is about people making healthy choices and living

healthy lives.