Conference discusses CNMI disease-killers

As cancer and heart ailment remains the leading cause of death among the indigenous population, health educators and doctors will gather this week to discuss the importance of maintaining health care in a move to increase people’s awareness.

Although diabetes and cancer are popular issues among the locals, the Department of Public Health has included favorite topics such as weight control, teen pregnancy and parenting issues in the second annual conference held under the sponsorship of the First Lady’s Vision. During the meeting, doctors will be on hand to conduct health screenings and counseling. (See related story on Page 8.)

While educational campaign on diabetes has been going on for many years now, locals are still reluctant to consult a doctor even if they are already showing signs of being diabetic for fear of having to undergo hemodialysis treatment or the thought of having one’s leg amputated, said Margaret Aldan, head of maternal child health and family planning division.

Complications brought about by diabetes can be prevented by having a regular check up of one’s blood sugar, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise.

Despite the limited budget, the department has carried out various campaigns to heighten people’s awareness on preventive diabetes as health officials track down patients to ensure that they get the right medical care, said Maggie Sablan, manager of health, planning and statistics.

However, more public information campaign on cancer particularly cervical, breast, lung and prostrate should be carried out to enhance the public’s awareness on this disease.

Sablan said women are more inclined to have their breast checked than going through a regular pap smear examination. Due to increasing cases of women afflicted with this cancer, the department has declared October as breast and cervical cancer month.

On the issue of how parents should respond to a rapidly changing society, Isamu Abraham, special health advisor, DPH, has noted that traditional institutions are losing effectiveness in providing support and guidance to the youth.

“If indeed, there is a decreasing ability of our traditional institutions as the family to successfully handle the pressures of a rapidly changing culture, then we must work very hard to face such a challenge,” said Abraham.