The Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG), and partner stakeholders, this week launched the second national  Philippine Digestive Health Week (PDHW) with the theme “Empowering Filipinos to Care for their Digestive Health”, which aims to promote health literacy among Filipinos.

Celebrated on March 7-13, the PDHW is a week-long event set to feature various online shows and webinars such as “Tummy Talks” which will tackle Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Colon Cancer, and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease. “Talakayan for the Bulilits” giving parents and children an opportunity to engage in a lay forum to discuss myths on jaundice, diarrhea, and complementary feeding, and “Talakayan for the Young Once” focusing on myths on constipation, diarrhea, nutrition and colon cancer will also be highlighted in the celebration.

“The WHO, together with the DOH, PSG, and other cancer control stakeholders, remains committed to upholding our longstanding collaboration to achieve common goals, including closing cancer care equity gaps,” said Ms. Ma. Stella Osorio, Technical Coordinator on Cancer Control of the World Health Organization Representative Office in the Philippines.

“We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a very challenging health crisis which subsequently challenged different healthcare provisions, including the screening of a preventable disease like colorectal cancer. However, we continue to remain steadfast in combating other diseases, notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to emphasize promoting awareness on cancer and other diseases in achieving health for all,” added DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire.

“The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is one with the PSG in strengthening the information drive on digestive health and promoting health literacy among Filipinos,” said PCOO Head, Secretary Martin Andanar, on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“On behalf of the PSG, I thank the DOH and all our partner stakeholders for supporting the annual PDHW celebration. Let us continue working together in promoting awareness on digestive health,” expressed PSG President Dr. Ira I. Yu

“As the country realizes Universal Health Care, the PSG has long been a partner of the national government in formulating and implementing digestive health policies and programs, which are vital in providing a people-centric health system. Our partnership is a potent force in ensuring that Filipinos’ overall health and well-being are improved and developed for the benefit of all,” said Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III.