AUGUST CALENDAR OF HEALTH

I. National Lung Month

Basic Facts and Key Messages:

a) Lung Cancer Awareness Month
In the Philippines, Lung Cancer is one of the leading cancer deaths
among men and women. The steady increase in rates of people developing
and dying from lung cancer is the delayed effects of increased smoking by the
Filipinos. An estimated 17, 238 new cases of, and 15, 881 deaths due to lung
cancer are expected to occur every year.

Lung Cancer Facts:

· Almost 100% of all lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.
· Smokers reach the “cancer age” at least 15 years earlier than non-
smokers
· Non-smokers who are continuously exposed to tobacco smoke in
enclosed spaces are at risk of getting lung cancer.
· Tobacco smoking before and during pregnancy may cause birth
defects.
· Tobacco smoking reduces life expectancy.

Causes of Lung Cancer:

· Cigarette Smoking
Smoking causes 75% to 90% of lung cancer.
· Involuntary Smoking
Also called “passive smoking”, it is breathing in of harmful substances
contained in tobacco smoke by non-smokers.
· Pollution
This includes air pollutants such as combustion of diesel and other
forms of fuel.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer:

· Persistent dry cough that gets worse over time.
· Constant chest pain
· Blood-stained sputum (phlegm)
· Extreme shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness
· Swelling of the neck and face
· Weight loss
· Fatigue
· Difficulty in swallowing
Prevention:
There is no effective way of detecting lung cancer in its early stages. That is
why the best approach to lung cancer prevention is NO SMOKING!

The youth should be discouraged from starting the habit of smoking. BE

SMART, DON’T EVER START!

b) National Tuberculosis Awareness Month

National Tuberculosis Day - August 19

“TB Network: Sama-samang Sugpuin ang TB”

Basic Facts and Key Messages:

1. Continuous advocacy on the TB Network – a campaign
towards partnership of DOH, PhilHealth, PhilCAT and the
LGUs in the fight against tuberculosis

2. Strengthening Directly Observed Treatment Short Course

Chemotherapy (DOTS)

3. What Should Be Done To Avoid Getting Sick of TB?

Ø Cover the nose and mouth when somebody is
coughing or sneezing
Ø Avoid staying in crowded places
Ø Have plenty of rest
Ø Eat well-balanced, nutritious food
Ø Have a well-ventilated room
Ø Keep the environment clean

4. What Should A TB Patient Do to Prevent the Spread of the

TB Bacilli?
Ø Cover the nose and mouth when somebody is
coughing or sneezing
Ø Avoid spitting anywhere, use a covered
container and dispose properly
Ø Stay in a well-ventilated room
Ø Take in medicines regularly during the whole
duration of the treatment – Directly Observed
Treatment Short Course Chemotherapy
Ø Have plenty of rest
Ø Regular medical check-up

II. Family Planning Month

Basic Facts and Key Messages:

The celebration of Family Planning Month is focused on the
information, education and advocacy efforts on family planning. It is
also the appropriate venue to disseminate the government’s policy
 direction and target on population which is to adopt the “three year
birth spacing within the context of responsible parenthood. (Dept.
Circular No. 225 s. 2004 – Family Planning Day Celebration
Throughout the Month of August)

The following are the three basic messages to be disseminated:

1. All Filipino couples to space births of at least 3 years.

2. All Filipino couples to practice responsible parenthood so that

every child born to a family is properly fed, clothed, nurtured
and educated.

3. To promote the “bright child” concept meaning that couples

should strive to make every child they bring to this world, a
“bright child”. Bright Child is the brand name of the holistic
program directed at children belonging to the 0-6 years old
category. The bright child programs and services are health
and nutrition, psychosocial care and development, early
education and food security and livelihood

III. Sight Saving Month -

Basic Facts:
1. A study by the University of the Philippines, Institute of
Ophthalmology and Department of Health (DOH) showed
that cataract, glaucoma, corneal disease, and trauma are the
four leading causes of blindness among Filipinos. Some
500,000 Filipinos suffer from bilateral blindness due to
cataract.

2. August is observed annually as Sight-Saving Month to

emphasize to our people the importance of protecting and
taking good care of our eyes. The celebration is also aimed
at encouraging the public to be aware about the means of
restoring lost eyesight.

3. Organ donation is now accepted by the public. The Santa

Lucia International Eye Bank of Manila is one institution
that promotes this project to help restore the eyesight of our
countrymen who suffer from blindness. It is estimated that
some 70,000 of those suffering from bilateral blindness
may have their eyesight restored through corneal transplant.
Less than a thousand of them, however, were fortunate to
see again in 2003.

Key Messages:

1. Vitamin A saves SIGHT and LIFE.

 2. Ensuring a diet rich in vitamin A

3. Provide Vitamin A capsule to infants, preschoolers and post-

partum mothers following the guidelines.

4. Consult your doctor for any sight problem.

§ Young children with vision problems often do not know

that the way they see the world is not the way everyone
sees it. Yet vision problems affect one in 20
preschoolers. They also affect one in four school
children. Without early detection and treatment,
children's vision problems can lead to: >
permanent vision loss

> learning difficulties

5. Exposure to UV rays can burn delicate eye tissue and raise the
risk of developing cataracts and cancers of the eye. Protecting
your eyes from UV dangers by using sunglasses when
outdoors.

IV. White Cane Safety Day in the Philippines - August 1

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6759

.
AN ACT DECLARING AUGUST ONE OF EACH YEAR AS WHITE CANE SAFETY
DAY IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "White Cane
Act."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is declared to be the policy of the State to

promote and protect the physical, moral, and social well-being of all
handicapped persons, such as the blind, and to undertake studies on specific
causes of the high percentage of blind people in the Philippines.

Sec. 3. White Cane Safety Day. — August one of each year is hereby
declared as White Cane Safety Day for the purposes of instilling public
awareness of the plight of the blind, promoting recognition and acceptance of
the "white cane" as a symbol of the need of the blind for specific assistance
and as a reminder of the individual's duty to care for and accord due respect to
his unfortunate brethren.

Sec. 4. Observation; Education and Information. — The White Cane Safety

Day shall be appropriately observed. Towards this end, the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports, the Department of Health and the Philippine
Information Agency shall conduct a continuing education and information
campaign to achieve the purposes as stated in Section Three of this Act.
 Sec. 5. Government Agencies; Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
Education, Culture and Sports shall, in consultation with the Department of
Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, issue rules
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation. (Approved:
September 18, 1989)

V. World Breastfeeding Week - August 1-7

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is August 1st – 7th and celebrates

the signing of the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and
Support of Breastfeeding. It is celebrated in 120 countries on various dates.
The theme for 2006 is Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding.

The Innocenti Declaration was produced and adopted in 1990 by

participants at the WHO/UNICEF meeting on “Breastfeeding in the 1990s: A
Global Initiative.” The document lists the benefits of breastfeeding, plus
global and governmental goals. For a copy of the entire document see
http://www.waba.org.my/womenwork/inno.htm.

World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)

Protects, Promotes and Supports Breastfeeding Worldwide

INNOCENTI DECLARATION
On the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding.

RECOGNIZING THAT:

Breastfeeding is a unique process that:

Provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy

growth and development. Reduces incidence and severity of infectious
diseases, thereby lowering infant morbidity and mortality. Contributes to
women's health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and by
increasing the spacing between pregnancies. Provides social and economic
benefits to the family and the nation. Provides most women with a sense of
satisfaction when successfully carried out

and that Recent Research has found that:

these benefits increase with increased exclusiveness of breastfeeding

during the first six months of life, and thereafter with increased duration of
breastfeeding with complementary foods, and program intervention can result
in positive changes in breastfeeding behavior
VI. Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Week - August 1 - 7

Basic Facts andKey Messages:

1. Investing on breastfeeding as an economic, safe and practical initial means

to achieve goals of the Bright Child Program

2. Strict implementation of the Philippine Milk Code

3. Strengthening advocacy on making hospital institutions mother-baby

friendly

Ten Steps of the Mother-Baby Friendly Childbirth Initiative for Mother-

Friendly Hospitals, Birth Centers, and Home Birth Services
A mother-baby friendly hospital, birth center, or home birth service:

1. Offers all birthing mothers:

§ Unrestricted access to the birth companions of her choice,

including fathers, partners, children, family members, and friends;

§ Unrestricted access to continuous emotional and physical support

from a skilled woman-for example, a labor-support professional:

§ Access to professional midwifery care

2. Provides accurate descriptive and statistical information to the public

about its practices and procedures for birth care, including measures of
interventions and outcomes

3. Provides culturally competent care -- that is, care that is sensitive and
responsive to the specific beliefs, values, and customs of the mother's
ethnicity and religion.

4. Provides the birthing woman with the freedom to walk, move about,
and assume the positions of her choice during labor and birth (unless
restriction is specifically required to correct a complication), and
discourages the use of the lithotomy (flat on back with legs elevated)
position.

5. Has clearly defined policies and procedures for:

§ collaborating and consulting throughout the perinatal period with

other maternity services, including communicating with the
original caregiver when transfer from one birth site to another is
necessary;
 § linking the mother and baby to appropriate community resources,
including prenatal and post-discharge follow-up and breastfeeding
support.

6. Does not routinely employ practices and procedures that are

unsupported by scientific evidence, including but not limited to the
following:

§ shaving;

§ enemas;

§ IVs (intravenous drip);

§ withholding nourishment;

§ early rupture of membranes;

§ electronic fetal monitoring;

Other interventions are limited as follows:

§ Has an induction rate of 10% or less;

§ Has an episiotomy rate of 20% or less, with a goal of 5% or less;

§ Has a total cesarean rate of 10% or less in community hospitals,

and 15% or less in tertiary care (high-risk) hospitals;

§ Has a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) rate of 60% or more

with a goal of 75% or more

7. Educates staff in non-drug methods of pain relief and does not

promote the use of analgesic or anesthetic drugs not specifically
required to correct a complication.

8. Encourages all mothers and families, including those with sick or

premature newborns or infants with congenital problems, to touch,
hold, breastfeed, and care for their babies to the extent compatible with
their conditions.

9. Discourages non-religious circumcision of the newborn.

10. Strives to achieve the WHO-UNICEF "Ten Steps of the Baby-Friendly

Hospital Initiative" to promote successful breastfeeding:
 a. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated
to all health care staff;

b. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this

policy;

c. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of

breastfeeding;

d. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth;

e. Show mothers how to breast feed and how to maintain lactation

even if they should be separated from their infants;

f. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk

unless medically indicated;

g. Practice rooming in: allow mothers and infants to remain together

24 hours a day;

h. Encourage breastfeeding on demand;

i. Give no artificial teat or pacifiers (also called dummies or

soothers) to breastfeeding infants;

j. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer

mothers to them on discharge from hospitals or clinics.
(References)

VII. National Hospital Week August 6-12

Basic Facts and Key Messages:

1. Strict implementation of the provisions of the Hospital Waste
Management

2. Institutionalized Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Response

Program

3. Strong advocacy on creating and maintaining a “healthy hospital”

(A healthy hospital is a public or private hospital that provides
comprehensive quality health care which are affordable and accessible.
It is not only a center for cure but also for preventive care.)

4. Hospitals as centers for Wellness

Ø Six C’s of Hospitals as Centers for Wellness
§ Community-oriented
§ Culture Friendly
§ Competent/well-managed hospital
§ Caring/compassionate/communicating staff
 § Comprehensive health care
§ Clean and green

VIII. Asthma Week August 8-14

Basic Facts About Asthma

What is Asthma?

It's a chronic disease that makes it hard to get air in and out of lungs during
asthma attacks. These attacks can be prevented, but not cured and sometimes
they can be fatal if they are very severe and not treated. More kids miss school
because of this disease than any other chronic one.

What happens in an asthma attack?

The air flowing into and out of the lungs may be blocked by tightening
muscles, swelling and too much mucus. People with asthma may have a
reaction to triggers (things in the environment that can set off asthma attacks).
These triggers cause the asthmatic's airways to narrow and swell, causing the
symptoms of wheezing and/or coughing.

What are some warning signs of an asthma attack?

• coughing
• tightness in the chest
• feeling tired
• restlessness
• wheezing

A drop in the peak flow (using a peak flow meter) can be the first clue that an
asthma attack is on the way even before the person feels anything different.

What causes an attack?

Common triggers are:

· Smoking

· Aspirin and other medications

· Dust and dust mites

· Strong emotional responses (laughing, crying, etc.)

· Pollen

· Pets (the "dandruff' from their skin)

· Stress

· Roaches (their feces and dried body parts)

 · Breathing cold air/weather changes

· Colds, respiratory infections

· Mold, mildew

· Playing sports, running

· Perfumes, deodorants

· Air pollution

· Strong chemical smells (paint, cleaning fluids, etc.)

· Second hand smoke is a BIG trigger (especially for kids)!

When do you get medical help?

Call or visit your health care provider if:

· the person's peak flow doesn't get better after taking medications

· the person is still having trouble breathing after taking their quick
relief medication

Signs/Symptoms of asthma:

· Coughing with or without a cold (This is often the first symptom that
asthma isn't under control)

· Whistling, hissing or wheezing sounds in the chest

· Feeling short of breath (easily winded)

· A heavy or tight feeling in the chest

· Waking up often during the night

· Feeling tired

· Trouble exhaling (breathing out used air trapped in lungs)

NOTE: Infants and children may not show the usual symptoms and instead you may
notice:

· noisy breathing and congestion, or mucus, in the chest

· constant or repeated coughing spells

· they get tired more easily than other kids during playtime
 · they may stop their activities to prevent coughing or wheezing

Remember that the best way to manage asthma is to work as a team with your health
care provider or public health nurse so don't hesitate to ask questions and get answers.

VIII. Brain Attack Awareness Week August 14-18

Basic Facts and Key Messages:

1. Stroke Awareness Week is an annual health campaign that aims to
increase public knowledge of stroke and its devastating effects.

2. Battlecry:
“Stroke is Brain Attack”
“Stroke is Emergency”
“Stroke is Preventable”
“Stroke id Treatable”

Facts on Brain Attack or Stroke:

What is stroke?
There are two main types of stroke. The most common is ischaemic
stroke, which occurs when an artery is blocked by a blood clot,
interrupting the brain's blood supply. The other is haemorrhagic stroke,
which happens when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts,
causing bleeding.

In both instances, the blood supply is disrupted (for 24 hours or more)

and brain cells are deprived of oxygen and other nutrients. As a result,
some cells are damaged and others die.

In the case of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a

'mini stroke', the blood supply isn't disrupted for so long and the
patient recovers.

What are the symptoms?

Stroke can be fatal. Those who survive can be left with permanent or
temporary disabilities such as paralysis (on one side of the body) and
may lose the ability to speak, read and write.

Although stroke can affect anyone at any age, some people are higher
risk than others. This includes people with high blood pressure and/or
diabetes, those who smoke or drink and are inactive, and those who
had a close relative who died as a result of a stroke.

If any of these factors put you in the high-risk category, it's important
to take steps to reduce your chances of having a stroke. Talk to your
GP about what you can do.
Preventing stroke:
Stroke risk is influenced by a number of factors. Some of these stroke
factors, such as age, gender and a family history of stroke, cannot be
controlled.However, there are a number of risk factors for stroke which
you, as an individual, can control and in doing so help to reduce the
chances of having a stroke.

You can reduce you risk of stroke by keeping your blood pressure low,
quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and being physically active.
Stroke is also associated with diabetes and an irregular pulse.

Certainly the greatest prevention is to engage in a healthy lifestyle.

However sometimes surgery and medication may be necessary.