Young Health Programme Launches in the Philippines

AstraZeneca Philippines and the Iloilo Provincial Government announce the launch of the Young Health Programme in the Philippines with the PHAPCares Foundation. Supported by the Department of Education Iloilo Schools Division and the Department of Health Regional Office VI, the programme is a global community investment initiative from AstraZeneca, focusing on empowering young people to help prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disease.

The Iloilo Provincial Government, AstraZeneca Philippines, and PHAPCares Foundation are all pitching in to implement the Healthy Youth, Healthy Future Project

The Philippine iteration of the Young Health Programme (YHP), which is dubbed as Healthy Youth, Healthy Future, aims to impact 30,000 adolescents aged 10 to 19 in Iloilo within two years. It seeks to address health and social issues, specifically NCD awareness, mental wellness, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among the youth.

“Improving adolescent well-being will deliver significant positive impact for the Ilonggo youth and create a ripple effect to their children in the future” said Lotis Ramin, Country President of AstraZeneca Philippines. “With this collaboration, we look forward to a healthier world for the youth that goes beyond treatment – a strong and preventive health ecosystem of disease awareness and lifestyle management. With the pilot’s success, we are positive we can replicate YHP across the province, and eventually throughout the Philippines.”

The sites for the programme are three municipalities in Iloilo Province, namely Carles, Mina, and Pototan. Carles is a 2nd-class, coastal municipality with a population of over 72,000. Mina is a 5th-class town with over 24,000 people. Pototan is a 1st-class municipality with over 78,000 residents.

AstraZeneca Philippines Country President Lotis Ramin and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. lead the initiative in helping the Ilonggo youth become healthier

“The Province of Iloilo welcomes the launch of the Young Health Programme with our partners in AstraZeneca, PHAPCares Foundation, together with the Department of Education and Department of Health. YHP is a significant step towards enhancing youth support services in the province through education, health, and community resources. This proactive approach in Iloilo youth development, along with our other existing guidance and counseling programs will prepare our youth for future challenges and opportunities, ultimately contributing to a healthier, more informed, and more capable province,” said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.

Healthy Youth, Healthy Future will focus on three areas: non-communicable diseases, mental health, and SRHR, as these health issues contribute to health outcomes and premature mortality among the youth. It does this by addressing the primary risk factors – tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and exposure to air pollution - that contribute to NCDs.

Tobacco use and a sedentary lifestyle are among the most concerning risk factors for NCDs. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that 12.5% of students aged 13 to 15 were using tobacco products. Filipino adolescents were also found to be the most physically inactive in the world, according to the 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

A nationwide survey of the University of the Philippines Population Institute indicated that close to one in five Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 have considered ending their life.

Meanwhile, about one out of 10 babies are born to adolescent mothers. While the number of total adolescent births declined from 2016 to 2020, births to mothers younger than 15 years old slightly increased each year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The activities that will help address these issues include medical outreach, development of education materials, information sessions, and training of healthcare workers.

The Healthy Youth, Healthy Future initiative is seen to be a model programme that other local governments can emulate in the future

“We appreciate Gov. Defensor’s vision in prioritizing health and emphasizing wellness as a central element in all of the provincial government’s programs. YHP not only provides vital health education but also fosters access to health services, community engagement and support to ensure that young people have the resources they need. It is our hope that with this project, we can create a ripple effect of health and well-being that extends beyond individual lives of young people, transforming entire families and communities in the process,” explained Dr. Rorie Siasoco, Executive Director of PHAPCares Foundation.

“This project is wholeheartedly embraced by the Iloilo Provincial Government as it aligns perfectly with our development mantra of MorProGRess Iloilo, movement for a robust, progressive, globally competitive, and resilient Iloilo. We are truly excited about this partnership as it addresses clinical issues faced by our adolescents,” explained Dr. Maria Socorro C. Quinon, Provincial Health Officer II of the Province of Iloilo.

The recent ceremonial MOA signing event held at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Building was also graced by Dr. Fritzi Ann Suzette Jeroso, Health Promotion Unit Head – Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development and Dr. Ernesto F. Servillon, DepEd Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent. Both offices pledged their commitment to support the programme in its implementation in the province.

The Philippines is the 41st country to launch the Young Health Programme. The initiative has directly reached 15 million youth worldwide since its establishment in 2010. It has also trained 580,000 young people to implement health interventions, and 225,000 healthcare workers to respond to adolescent health needs. Disease prevention is a critical component of building stronger, more resilient health systems. By empowering youth and youth-serving organisations with the knowledge to make informed choices about their health, the YHP aims to reduce the future burden of NCDs on the health system.