Adolescent and Youth Health Program (AYHP)

The Adolescent Health Program

The Adolescents Youth and Heath Development Programs   was established in 2001  under the
oversight of the Department   of Health in partnership with other government agencies with
adolescent concerns   and other stakeholdres. The  program  is targeting youth ages 10–24,  and
the program  provides comprehensive implementation guidelines for youth-friendly
comprehensive health care and services on multiple levels—national, regional, provincial/city, and
municipal.

The program  is solidly achored on International and laws, passages and polices meant to address
adolescent’s health concerns. It is operating then   within the facets and adolescents and youth
health that includes disability, mental and environmental health, reproductive and sexuality,
violence and injury prevention and among others.

It employed strategies to ensure integration of the program intothe health care system in addition,
broader society such as building a supportive policy environment, intensifying IEC and advocacy
particularly among teachers, families, and peers, building the technical capacity of providers of
care, and support for youth; improving accessibility and availability of quality health services,
strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships, resource mobilization, allocation and improved data
collection and management.

 The program to address sexual and reproductive health issues likewise adopts gender-sensitive
approaches. The primary responsibility for implementation of the AYHDP, and its mainstreaming
into the health system, falls to regional and provincial/city sectors. Guidelines cover service
delivery, IEC, training, research and information collection, monitoring and evaluation, and
quality assurance. 

Program Manager:

Dr. Minerva Vinluan

National Center for Disease Prevention and Control - Family Health Office

Phone: (02) 651-7800 locals 1728-1730

Email: mineravinluan@[Link] 
Food Fortification Program
The Food Fortification Program is the Philippine government’s response to the growing
micronutrient malnutrition, which has been prevalent in the country for the past several years.

Mandate : Republic Act 8976, “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program
and for other purposes” mandating fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and flour
and rice with iron by November 7, 2004 and promoting voluntary fortification through the SPSP,
Signed into law on November 7, 2000

•There are 139 processed food products with SangkapPinoySeal with 83% with vitamin A, 29%
with iron and 14% with iodine (2008)

•37% of the products are snack foods

•Most of the products FDA analyzed are within the standard

•Although awareness is low, usage of SPS-products is 99.2%

Objectives:

1. To provide the basis for the need for a   food fortification program in the   Philippines: The
Micronutrient   Malnutrition Problem

2.   To discuss various types of food fortification strategies

3.   To provide an update on the current   situation of food fortification in the   Philippines

Vitamin A, Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) and its Consequences

 ›Vitamin A - an essential nutrient as retinol needed by the body for normal sight, growth,
reproduction and immune competence
 ›Vitamin A deficiency - a condition characterized by depleted liver stores & low blood
levels of vitamin A due to prolonged insufficient dietary intake of vit. A followed by poor
absorption or utilization of vit. A in the body
 ›VAD affects children’s  proper  growth,   resistance    to  infection, and chances of
survival (23 to 35% increased child mortality), severe deficiency results to blindness,
night blindness and bitot’s spot

Iron and Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and its consequences 

 ›Iron - an essential mineral and is part of hemoglobin, the red protein in red blood cells
that carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells
 ›Iron Deficiency Anemia - condition where there is lack of iron in the body resulting to
low hemoglobin concentration of the blood
  ›IDA results in premature delivery, increased maternal mortality, reduce ability to fight 
infection and transmittable diseases and low productivity 

Iodine and Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) 

 ›Iodine -a mineral and a component of the thyroid hormones

 ›Thyroid hormones - needed for the brain and nervous system to develop & function
normally
 ›Iodine Deficiency Disorders refers to a group of clinical entities caused by inadequacy
of dietary iodine for the thyroid hormone resulting into various condition e.g. goiter,
cretinism, mental retardation, loss of IQ points

Policy on Food Fortification

 ASIN LAW

Republic Act 8172, “An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide and for other purposes”,
Signed into law on Dec. 20, 1995

 Food Fortification Law

Republic Act 8976, “An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program and for
other purposes” mandating fortification of flour, oil and sugar with Vitamin A and flour and rice
with iron by November 7, 2004 and promoting voluntary fortification through the SPSP, Signed
into law on November 7, 2000

Status and Recommendation on Flour Fortification with Vitamin A and Iron

Status:

 ›Based on FDA monitoring all local flour millers are fortifying with vitamin A and iron
 ›94% and 92% of all samples tested by FDA in 2009 were fortified with vitamin A and
iron respectively while 77% and 99% were fortified with vitamin A and iron respectively.
In 2010 decrease in vitamin A due to non-fortified imported and market samples flour.
 ›58% of samples from local mills for vitamin A and 67% of imported flour for iron were
fortified according to standards.

Status and Recommendations on Rice Fortification with Iron  

Status:

 ›NFA is fortifying 50% of its rice in 2009 and 2010 

 ›With the non – fortification of NFA rice, private sector has an excuse for non –
fortification of its rice.

Food Fortification Day Theme 2010:

 EO 382 declares November 7 as the National Food Fortification Day

Program Coordinator:

Ms. Liberty Importa

National Center for Disease Prevention and Control - Family Health Office
Garantisadong Pambata
The Mandate: A.O. 36, s2010

Aquino Health Agenda (AHA): Achieving Universal Health Care for All Filipinos

Goal

 ›Achievement of better health outcomes, sustained health financing and responsive health
system by ensuring that all Filipinos, esp. the disadvantaged group (lowest 2 income
quintiles) have equitable access to affordable health care

Universal Health Care

Strategies:

 Financial risk protection.

 Improved access to quality hospitals and facilities
 Attainment of health-related MDGs by:
 Deploy CHTs to actively assist families in assessing and acting on their health needs
 Utilize life cycle approach in providing needed services: FP, ANC, FBD, ENC, IPP, GP
for 0-14 years old
 Aggressive promotion of healthy lifestyle change
 Harness strengths of inter-agency and intersectoralcooperation with DepEd, DSWD and
DILG

EXPANDED GARANTISADONG PAMBATA

Comprehensive and integrated  package of services and communication on health, nutrition and
environment for children available everyday at various settings such as home, school, health
facilities and communities by government and non-government organizations, private sectors
and civic groups.

Objectives:

 ›Contribute to the reduction of infant and child morbidity and mortality towards the
attainment  of MDG 1 and 4.
 ›Ensure that all Filipino children, especially the disadvantaged group (GIDA), have
equitable access to affordable health, nutrition and environment care. 

GP Services Package
 
Age by
Health  Nutrition Environment
Year
Maternalnutrition

Iron supplementation
Maternal health care Water
Vitamin A
0-1 Essential newborn care Sanitation
Early &exclusive
Immunization Hygiene promotion
breastfeeding

Complementary feeding Oral health

Breastfeeding Child injury
prevention
Immunization Complementaryfeeding
Treated bednets
1-5 Deworming Vitamin A
Smoke-free homes
IMCI Iron supplementation

Iodized salt at home

Deworming
Proper nutrition
6-10
Booster immunization 
Iodized salt at home
(Screening)
Deworming
Proper nutrition  
Booster immunization
11-14 (Screening) Iron supplementation

Physical activity (Healthy Iodized salt at home

lifestyle)
Smoking Cessation Program
Rationale:

The use of tobacco continues to be a major cause of health problems worldwide. There is
currently an estimated 1.3 billion smokers in the world, with 4.9 million people dying because of
tobacco use in a year.  If this trend continues, the number of deaths will increase to 10 million by
the year 2020, 70% of which will be coming from countries like the Philippines. (The Role of
Health Professionals in Tobacco Control, WHO, 2005)

The policy paper also stated that support for smoking cessation or “treatment of tobacco
dependence” refers to a range of techniques including motivation, advise and guidance,
counseling, telephone and internet support, and appropriate pharmaceutical aids all of which aim
to encourage and help tobacco users to stop using tobacco and to avoid subsequent relapse. 

The Philippine Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in 2009 (DOH, Philippines GATS
Country Report, March 16, 2010) revealed that 28.3% (17.3 million) of the population aged 15
years old and over currently smoke tobacco, 47.7% (14.6 million) of whom are men, while 9.0%
(2.8 million) are women.  Eighty percent of these current smokers are daily smokers with men
and women smoking an average of 11.3 and 7 sticks of cigarettes per day respectively.

The survey also revealed that among ever daily smokers, 21.5% have quit smoking.  Among
those who smoked in the last 12 months, 47.8% made a quit attempt, 12.3% stated they used
counseling and or advise as their cessation method, but only 4.5% successfully quit. 

The national smoking infrastructure is mandated by the Tobacco Regulations Act which orders
the Department of Health to set up withdrawal clinics. As such DOH Administrative Order No.
122 s. 2003 titled The Smoking Cessation Program to support the National Tobacco Control and
Healthy Lifestyle Program allowed the setting up of the National Smoking Cessation Program.

Vision:                 Reduced prevalence of smoking and minimizing smoking-related health risks.

Mission:            To establish a national smoking cessation program (NSCP).

Objectives:

The program aims to:

1.       Promote and advocate smoking cessation in the Philippines; and

2.       Provide smoking cessation services to current smokers interested in quitting the habit.

Program Components:
The NSCP shall have the following components:

1.          Training 

2.          Advocacy

A smoke-free environment (SFE) shall be maintained in DOH and participating non-DOH

facilities, offices, attached agencies, and retained hospitals. DOH officials, staff, and employees,
together with the officials of participating non-DOH offices, shall participate in the observance
and celebration of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) every 31 st of May and the World No
Tobacco Month every June.

3.          Health Education

4. Research and Development 

Partner Organizations:

PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CHEST PHYSICIAN

LUNG CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL               
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
PHILIPPINE ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS 
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL     
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
Department of Health-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (DOH-NCDPC)
Others…

Program Coordinator:

Ms. Frances Prescilla Cuevas

Smoking Cessation Councilors:

Dr. Franklin Diza

Ms. Frances Prescilla Cuevas
Ms. Remedios Guerrero

 
National Rabies Prevention and Control
Program
Rabies is a human infection that occurs after a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected animal,
like dogs and cats. It can be transmitted when infectious material, usually saliva, comes into
direct contact with a victim’s fresh skin lesions. Rabies may also occur, though in very rare
cases, through inhalation of virus-containing spray or through organ transplants.

Rabies is considered to be a neglected disease, which is 100% fatal though 100% preventable. It
is not among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the country but it is regarded as a
significant public health problem because (1) it is one of the most acutely fatal infection and (2)
it is responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually.

Vision:   To Declare Philippines Rabies-Free by year 2020

Goal:  To eliminate human rabies by the year 2020

Program Strategies:

To attain its goal, the program employs the following strategies:

1. Provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to all Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs)

2. Provision of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to high risk individuals and school children in
high incidence zones

3.  Health Education

Public awareness will be strengthened through the Information, Education, and Communication
(IEC) campaign. The rabies program shall be integrated into the elementary curriculum and the
Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) shall be promoted.  In coordination with the Department of
Agriculture, the DOH shall intensify the promotion of dog vaccination, dog population control,
as well as the control of stray animals.

In accordance with RA 9482 or “The Rabies Act of 2007”, rabies control ordinances shall be
strictly implemented. In the same manner, the public shall be informed on the proper
management of animal bites and/or rabies exposures.

4.  Advocacy

The rabies awareness and advocacy campaign is a year-round activity highlighted on two
occasions – March as the Rabies Awareness Month and September 28 as the World Rabies Day.
5. Training/Capability Building

Medical doctors and Registered Nurses are to be trained on the guidelines on managing a victim.

6. Establishment of ABTCs by Inter-Local Health Zone

7. DOH-DA joint evaluation and declaration of Rabies-free islands

Program Achievements:

The DOH, together with the partner organizations/agencies, has already developed the guidelines
for managing rabies exposures. With the implementation of the program strategies, five islands
were already declared to be rabies-free.

In 2010, 257 rabies cases and 266,200 animal bites or rabies exposures were reported.  A total of
365 ABTCs were established and strategically located all over the country. Post Exposure
Prophylaxis against rabies was provided in all the 365 ABTCs.

Partner Organizations/Agencies:

 Department of Agriculture (DA)

 Department of Education (DepEd)
 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
 World Health Organization (WHO)
 Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC)
 BMGF Foundation
 WHO/BMGF Rabies Elimination Project
1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
2. World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
3. Medical Research Council (MRC)

Program Manager:

Dr. Raffy A. Deray

Department of Health-National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (DOH-NCDPC)