ILOILO CITY – While there is a continuing threat of COVID-19, there is also a rise in cardiovascular deaths in Iloilo province.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, said there were 1,950 deaths from hypertensive and cardiovascular diseases last year. It even overtook pneumonia as the leading cause of death in the province with 42 towns and a component city.
For Quiñon, the spike in these deaths may be linked to the fear of those with comorbidities that there’s a chance they may get infected with COVID-19 if they visit a clinic or hospital for consultations.
Dr. Felix Ray Villa, chief executive officer of The Medical City Iloilo (TMC Iloilo), added that Western Visayas region ranks fourth in terms of cardiovascular disease cases in the country.
“The public needs to understand that delays in healthcare services can affect patients in terms of developing complications and how early detection and prevention can be of great benefit in terms of saving lives,” said Villa.
TMC Iloilo recently launched its “Health is Essential, Do Not Delay” campaign to encourage medical consultation as early as possible.
Dr. Debbie Noblezada-Uy, TMC Iloilo chief medical officer, said that early medical intervention is an important element in curbing cases of stroke or heart attacks, especially when hospitals are operating beyond capacity.