April 2010

Cancer in Children Awareness Month

7 World Health Day
12-16 Garantisadong Pambata –
Round 1
22 Philippine Earth's Day
25 World Malaria Day
4th wk Head and Neck Consciousness
Week
 Cancer in Children Awareness Month

As cancer is among the causes of death in children, especially with the

emergence of new cases, the Department of Health has declared the month
of April as Cancer in Children Awareness Month.
Among the most common forms of cancer in children are leukemia,
brain and spinal cancer, lymphomas, retinoblastoma or eye cancer, wilm’s
tumor or cancer of the kidney and the estrogenic sarcoma, which is a type of
bone cancer.
Although cancer detection is difficult among children as they are
associated with common childhood disease, the Department of Health advice
parents to have their children undergo regular medical check-up especially
when they experience prolonged and unexplained fever, pallor or paleness,
pain, increased tendency to bruise, unusual masses or swelling, frequent
headaches, sudden visual changes and weight loss.
Reports have it that sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets are some
of the causes that people are more prone to cancer. There are observations
that smoke inhaled from cigarettes is one cause for lung cancer which is so
common here in our country.
According to medical practitioners, having a healthy lifestyle, regular
exercise, proper diet and regularly bringing our children for check-up will
help in maintaining their good health.
Along this line, parents are advised to feed their children with fiber rich
foods and to avoid giving them junk food like processed canned goods, which
are rich in fats and have less dietary contents.
It was learned from health experts that fiber rich foods are important
not only because it reduces blood cholesterol, but more importantly because
it prevents risk in development cancer in the child and other diseases.
Relative to this, parents are advised to feed their children a variation of food
intakes, which contain vitamins and minerals and is important in the
development stage of the child.
 The objective of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is to spotlight
childhood cancer and survivorship issues related to childhood cancer
nationally. This is dedicated to leading the way in advocacy and fundraising
for childhood cancer research and awareness.

World Health Day

World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April, under the
sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 1948, the World Health Organization held the First World Health
Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with
effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. The World Health Day is
celebrated to create “awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a
priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO)”. Activities
– related to that particular theme and the resources provided – continue
beyond 7 April, that is, the designated day for celebrating the World Health
Day.

Themes of Present and Previous World Health Days

World Health Day 2010: 1000 cities - 1000 lives

World Health Day 2010 will focus on urbanization and health. The
theme was selected in recognition of the effect urbanization has on our
collective health globally and for us all individually.
Some facts on urbanization
Over 3 billion people live in cities.
In 2007, the world’s population living in cities surpassed 50% for the
first time in history.
By 2030, six out of every 10 people will be city dwellers, rising to
seven out of every 10 people by 2050.
World Health Day campaign: 1000 Cities, 1000 Lives
With the campaign 1000 cities, 1000 lives, events will be organized
worldwide during the week of 7 – 11 April 2010.
 The global goals of the campaign are:
1000 cities: to open up public spaces to health, whether it be activities
in parks, town hall meetings, clean-up campaigns, or closing off portions of
streets to motorized vehicles.
1000 lives: collect 1000 stories of urban health champions who have
taken action and had a significant impact on health to in their lives.

World Health Day 2009: Save lives. Make hospitals safe in

Emergencies

World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and
the readiness of health workers who treat people affected by emergencies.
Health centres and staff provide vital health care in communities every day.
In disasters, their services are in even greater demand: treating injuries,
preventing illnesses and caring for people’s urgent health needs.
A safe hospital that continues to function at optimum capacity during
and after a disaster or other emergency is a safe haven that protects lives.
Safe health facilities are a joint responsibility, requiring crucial support from
other sectors to ensure essential life-lines. When health facilities stop
functioning, it is a double blow to a devastated community.

World Health Day 2008:

Protecting health from the adverse effects of climate change
 The World Health Day, on 7 April, marks the founding of the World
Health Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a
subject of major importance to global health each year. In 2008, World
Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of
climate change.& establish links between climate change and health and
other development areas such as environment, food, energy, and transport.
The theme “protecting health from climate change” puts health at the
centre of the global dialogue about climate change. WHO selected this
theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to
global public health security.
Through increased collaboration, the global community will be better
prepared to cope with climate-related health challenges worldwide.
Examples of such collaborative actions are: strengthening surveillance and
control of infectious diseases, ensuring safer use of diminishing water
supplies, and coordinating health action in emergencies.

World Health day 2007: International health security

The theme for World Health Day 2007 was international health
security. The aim was to urge governments, organizations and businesses to
"invest in health, build a safer future".
Emerging diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza, humanitarian
emergencies, health risks from effects of climate change or environmental
degradation, and other acute health threats can all be defined as public
health emergencies. International health security is the first line of defence
against health shocks that can devastate people, societies and economies
worldwide.
A high-level global debate took place in Singapore on 2 April 2007, in
advance of the Day, to raise the profile of international health security. The
wide-ranging debate challenged panellists to confront the public health,
business and diplomatic obstacles to improved cross-border cooperation, and
urged them to find a way forward to more effective collaboration.
Key messages for World Health Day 2007:
1. Threats to health know no borders.
2. Invest in health, build a safer future.
3. Health leads to security; insecurity leads to poor health.
4. Preparedness and quick response improve international health
security.
5. The World Health Organization is making the world more secure

World Health day 2006: Working together for health

In 2006, World Health Day was devoted to the health workforce crisis.
Health workers - the people who provide health care to those who need it -
are at the heart of health systems. But around the world, there is a chronic
shortage of health workers as a result of decades of underinvestment in their
education, training, salaries, working environment and management. The
results are evident: clinics with no health workers and hospitals that cannot
recruit or keep key staff. This is a crisis from which no country is entirely
immune.
Hundreds of organizations hosted events to draw attention to the
global health workforce crisis and to celebrate the dignity and value of
working for health.
World Health day 2005: Make every mother and child count

The theme of World Health Day 2005 was healthy mothers and
children. The well-being of societies is directly linked to the health and
survival of mothers and children. Yet too many mothers and children are
dying or suffering from the effects of ill-health, poor nutrition and inadequate
health care. Nearly all these deaths occur in low- and middle-income
countries, and mainly among the poorest of the poor.
Events were organized worldwide to raise awareness of this needless
suffering, and of the efforts needed by all to ensure life and good health
among these precious members of society.

World Health day 2004: Road safety

In 2004, for the first time in the WHO history, World Health Day was
focused on the theme of road safety. Although road traffic collisions kill more
than 1.2 million people a year around the world, they are largely neglected
as a health issue, perhaps because they are still viewed by many as events
which are beyond our control. Yet the risks are known: speeding, alcohol,
non-use of helmets, seat belts and other restraints, poor road design, poor
enforcement of road safety regulations, unsafe vehicle design, and poor
emergency health services.
 World Health Day 2004 tried to advocate a "systems approach" to road
safety, which takes into consideration the key aspects of the system: the
road user, the vehicle and the infrastructure.

World Health day 2003: Healthy environments for children

World Health Day 2003 was a call to do more to protect three of our
greatest assets: health, the environment and our children. Every year, more
than 5 million children under the age of 15 die from diseases and conditions
caused by the environments in which they live, learn and play. Many of these
deaths could be prevented through the creation of healthy environments in
the home, the school and the community at large.
From India to Ireland and from Chile to China, hundreds of
communities, teachers, local governments, civil society groups, medical
professionals and children participated in events to support solutions to
minimize environmental risks.

World Health Day 2002: Move for health

World Health Day 2002 stimulated a global debate on the shift in the
global burden of disease and the factors that are fuelling this process of
change. In most parts of the world, noncommunicable diseases have become
a major epidemic. This is due, in part, to a rapid change in lifestyles leading
to reduced physical activity, changing diets and increased tobacco use. This
trend is present in all societies, rich and poor, developed and developing.
To draw the attention of policy-makers, the public health community
and civil society to these issues, World Health Day 2002 emphasized the
importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

World Health Day 2001: Mental health: stop exclusion - Dare to

care

World Health Day 2001 was dedicated to influencing public opinion and
stimulating debate on how to improve the current condition of mental health
patients around the world. Nobody is immune to mental disorders, and their
impact in psychological, social and economic terms is very high.

Advocacy activities focused on the key concerns of care and exclusion

as demonstrated by depressive disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's
disease, alcohol dependence, epilepsy and mental retardation. Countries and
organizations adapted activities to focus on the problems and disorders
which have a significant impact in their communities.

World Health Day 2000: Safe Blood Start with Me

World Health Day 1999: Active Aging Makes the Difference
World Health Day 1998: Safe Motherhood
World Health Day 1997: Emerging Infectious Diseases
World Health Day 1996: Healthy Cities for Better Life
World Health Day 1995: Global Polio Eradication
Reference: http://www.who.int
http://en.wikipedia.org

Garantisadong Pambata (GP)

 Garantisadong Pambata (GP) is a campaign to support various health
programs to reduce childhood illnesses and deaths by promoting positive
child care behaviours.
GP is a program of the department of Health in partnership with the
Local Government Units and other government and nongovernment
organizations.
This ensures that all children below five years old receive health
services needed by them to be healthy. Children who missed the routine
health services and those living in the remote areas are given special
attention during GP Week.
The services of Garantisadong Pambata are as follow:
1. Giving Vitamin A capsule (VAC) supplement to all 12-59 months old
children.
2. Catch-up immunization (children who missed the routine
immunization like BCG, DPT, OPV, Measles)
3. Distribution of iron supplements to infants and pregnant women.
4. Promotion of positive caregiving behaviors:
a. Exclusive breastfeeding of infants from 0 to 6 months old.
b. Feeding infant micronutrient rich complementary foods starting 6
months old.
c. Using iodized salt daily.
d. Buying and eating fortified foods.
e. Brushing of teeth properly and regularly.
f. Letting children playing safe toys.
g. No smoking in-front of pre-schoolers.

GP is done twice a year. One week in April and one week in October.
The second round of GP for year 2001 is in October 15-19.
GP improves child survival and safe motherhood. And also improves
skills, capacity to learn for better educational and school performance.
Reference: http://www2.doh.gov.ph/GP/gplinggo.pdf

PHILIPPINE EARTH DAY

 Philippines extend the observance of Earth Day events to an entire
week, usually starting on April 16 and ending on Earth Day, April 22.These
events are designed to encourage environmentally-aware behaviors, such as
recycling, using energy efficiently, and reducing or reusing disposable items.
Earth Day is a day to promote awareness and appreciation for
the Earth's environment. It is on 22 April. It was founded by U.S.
Senator Gaylord Nelson(D-Wisconsin) as an environmental teach-in in 1970
and is celebrated in many countries every year. The first Earth Day was in
1970. Earth Day is spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in
the Southern Hemisphere.
The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the March
equinox, which is often 20 March. This is a tradition which was founded by
peace activist John McConnell in 1969. The United Nations first celebrated
Earth Day on the March equinox in 1971. This was also the first time ever
that the United Nations celebrated Earth Day. The Earth Day on the March
equinox was also in 1970.
Earth Day is similar to World Environment Day.
Clean Up the Philippines campaign is one of this program which is
under the banner of Clean Up the World. Supported by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), Clean Up the World is a global
environmental initiative which involves more than 35 million volunteers in
over 120 countries each year, making it one of the most largest community-
based environmental campaigns in the world.
 World Malaria Day

25 April is a day of unified commemoration of the global effort to

provide effective control of malaria around the world. This year's World
Malaria Day marks a critical moment in time. The international malaria
community has less than a year to meet the 2010 targets of delivering
effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of
malaria, as called for by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.
World Malaria Day represents a chance for all of us to make a
difference. Whether you are a government, a company, a charity or an
individual, you can roll back malaria and help generate broad gains in
multiple areas of health and human development.
Reducing the impact of malaria would significantly propel efforts to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals, agreed by every United Nations
member state. These include not only the goal of combatting the disease
itself, but also goals related to women's and children's rights and health,
access to education and the reduction of extreme poverty.
Hundreds of RBM partners - governments, international organizations,
companies, academic and research institutions, foundations, NGOs and
individuals - are already gaining ground against malaria. Diverse partner
initiatives are guided by a single strategy, outlined in the Global Malaria
Action Plan.
 HEAD AND NECK CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK

Malacaṅang declared the fourth week of April and every year

thereafter as HEAD
AND NECK CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK by Proclamation NO. 1676.
This headed by the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology – Head and
Neck Surgery and the Department of Health which aims to increase
awareness of the cancer of the head and neck region and to promote prompt
diagnosis, correct management and early prevention.
Head and Neck Cancer which includes nasopharynx, oral cavity and
larynx and thyroid diseases ranks as the third most common cancer sites
here in the Philippines where as there is an increase in the number of cases
of head and neck cancer as we are exposed more to environmental toxins,
chemicals, pollution, smoking and alcohol, and improper nutrition.
According to the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates by the
Philippine Cancer Society and Department of Health, there are 12,150 new
cases, ranking head and neck cancer as number 3 next to lung and breast.
Head and Neck Cancer will have an enormous impact on the person,
family, community and country as a whole as it translates to loss of income
and loss of productivity on the part of the patient and the immediate family.
The social aspect as well is affected as depression and anxiety comes into
the picture. There will be an intensive information dissemination campaign
regarding the prevention, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of Head and
Neck Cancer should be proactively implemented and dynamically pursued to
contain the disease and prevent further social and economic effect.
The Department of Health and the Philippine Society of Otolaryngology
– Head and Neck Surgery are directed to take the lead in planning and
organizing activities for the Head and Neck Consciousness Week. All other
government and non-government organizations, private and local
government units, academic institutions and civil society groups are enjoined
to take an active role and participate in the celebration and conduct
activities.