Promoting wellness and a healthy lifestyle in the workplace makes good business.
This is what the Employers Confederation of the Philippine (ECOP) leadership expressed during the 39th ECOP Members’ General Meeting (MGM) where resource persons tackled lifestyle and other diseases in the workplace.
ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., in his welcome remarks, said a workforce that is happy, healthy, and motivated will lead to a productive workplace.
“Employees who feel valued and rewarded at work perform better and with more synergy,” Ortiz-Luis emphasized.
Dr. Enrique Tayag, Director IV, Department of Health (DOH), tackled the salient provisions of Republic Act 1116, also known as the HIV/AIDS law, such as education in the workplace, HIV testing, compulsory HIV testing, treatment of persons living with HIV and AIDS, economic empowerment and support, health insurance and similar health services, and confidentiality.
Dr. Enrique Tayag, Director IV of the Department of Health (DOH).
At the same time, Tayag also informed the attendees that the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11036 or the National Mental Health Law, is now being formulated. “Mental health is a basic right of all Filipinos,” he pointed out.
Dr. Lalaine Mortera, Private Sector Technical Adviser, TB Innovations and Health Systems Strengthening Project, dwelled on “Engaging Workplaces for TB Screening and Treatment,” where she reported that tuberculosis is the top infectious killer in the world. She highlighted key findings of the 2016 National TB Prevalence as well as risk factors and tests to confirm TB.
Dr. Lalaine Mortera, Private Sector Technical Advisor for the TB Innovations & Health Systems Strengthening Project, fhi360.
“TB can cause increased direct and indirect costs for employers,” Mortera said, adding that employers have to be guided by DOLE Department Order 73-05 and Executive Order 187 which institutes a Comprehensive and Unified Policy (CUP) on TB Control in the Workplace.
For his part, Dr. Johann Kim Mañez, Head, Lifestyle Medicine Department, Adventist Medical Center, talked about “Healthy Lifestyle in the Workplace.” Citing the multiple dimensions of health, he noted the results of 2017 world health statistics where 70% of all deaths today are due to non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Johann Kim Mañez, Department Head of Lifestyle Medicine, Adventist Medical Center.
Mañez pointed out that in lifestyle medicine, education is the newest thing more than medication. He emphasized that lifestyle diseases can be prevented, controlled, and cured.
Dr. Charity Clarisse Viado-Gorospe, an oncologist at St. Luke’s Medical Center, zeroed in on “Cancer Awareness and Treatment.” She mentioned the early warning signals and causes of cancer as well as treatment and prevention.
Dr. Charity Viado-Gorospe, Oncologist at St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Dr. Maria Adelaida Iboleon-Dy, a cardiologist also of St. Luke’s Medical Center, discussed “Taking Care of Your Heart to Stay Productive at the Workplace.”
Dr. Maria Adelaida Iboleon-Dy, Cardiologist, St. Luke’s Medical Center.
