WHO names Guimaras pilot site for diabetes program

By Mariela Angella Oladive

In commemoration of World Diabetes Day, the Province of Guimaras has been selected as one of the pilot sites for the World Health Organization’s expanded noncommunicable disease initiative, following the launch of the Primary Care Diabetes Technical Package on Nov. 14 at the WHO Regional Office in Manila.

The package expands the existing WHO Healthy Hearts Programme, formerly focused on hypertension control, toward a more integrated approach that includes diabetes prevention, screening, and management within the primary health care system.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Department of Health and the DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development.

“The greatest honor we receive today is the trust placed in our province as one of the pilot sites for the Healthy Hearts Plus Program. I reaffirm the commitment of the Province of Guimaras to fully implement this initiative and help turn the tide against non-communicable diseases,” Governor Ma. Lucille L. Nava, MD, said in her message.

She added that the province continues to show that even small island provinces can lead the way in building responsive health systems under the Universal Health Care framework.

The activity was attended by WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Acting Country Representative Dr. Eunyoung Ko, and DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director IV Dr. Anna Marie Celina Garfin, along with other officials.

Governor Nava was accompanied by Provincial Health Office Nutritionist-Dietitian II Lovely Bargola.

The province’s participation underscores its ongoing commitment to strengthening people-centered and equitable health services under Universal Health Care.