It is known that 25% of Filipino adults, or about 14 million of current adult population, have high blood pressure. It is believed that a large majority of them are not accessing adequate health care, and as people often have no symptoms and unaware of their high blood pressure and associated health risks, many causes often are undiagnosed. The overall prevalence of high blood pressure in adults is aged 25 and above and an estimate of 7.5 million deaths is caused by high blood pressure (WHO, 2013). Heart disease and stroke remain as the leading causes of mortality, comprising 35% of total deaths, among Filipinos. Philippine Health Statistics data show that in 2009, about 167,000 Filipinos died from heart disease and stroke. Half of these tragic deaths are likely related to high blood pressure. In the Municipality of Sergio Osmena Sr.  Zamboanga Del Norte Province, last year’s records from RHU show that Hypertension is the 5th leading cause of morbidity and Top 3 mortality related to complications of Hypertension.

          On the initial survey done last October 2015 in Barangay Biayon,out of 343 subjects, 181 were suspected with hypertension. 114 of which were pre-hypertensive individuals, 44 has stage 1 hypertension, and 23 has stage 2 hypertension. Unfortunately, none of them have anti-hypertensive medications. Behavioral risk factors such as poor health seeking behavior, unhealthy diet that includes increased amount of salt consumption, tobacco use, physical inactivity and alcohol abuse are some of the main factors that contribute to the development of Hypertension (WHO, 2013) which could be modified to lessen the risk of contracting complications of hypertension.

The Solution.

• Pinggang Pinoy Food Guide Lecture

• Kasing-Kasing Ko, Atimanon Ko Program

• BHWs and BNS Blood Pressure (BP) Taking Training

• Purok Coordinators and Hypertensive Club Members Blood Pressure (BP) Taking Training

• Procurement and Distribution of Sphygmomanometers

• Hypertensive Club Election of Officers

• Morisky Adherence Scoring Treatment Compliance Monitorin

The Outcome.

          In order to ensure the sustainability of the health programs started to control the blood pressure of the diagnosed hypertensive individuals, an active participation of the diagnosed hypertensive individuals along with the purok representatives led to the formation of a Hypertensive Club. The members of the Hypertensive Club included volunteers who were trained in proper blood pressure taking. The newly constructed purok stations were utilized as the venue for weekly blood pressure monitoring. Those with blood pressure readings of more than 140/90 were immediately referred to the rural health unit for the evaluation of the physician, provision of blood pressure monitoring cards and maintenance medications. With the renovation of the barangay health station, the nurse and midwife established a schedule to have their duties there on Tuesday to Friday from 8 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the afternoon.