Declaring the Month of May of Each Year as "Hypertension Awareness Month"

May 1, 2009

PROCLAMATION NO. 1761

DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY OF EACH YEAR AS "HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH"

WHEREAS, the Philippine Society of Hypertension composed of multidisciplinary medical and allied professionals was organized in 1993 to help address the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension in the Philippines; IEHDAT

WHEREAS, nearly eight million adult Filipinos suffer from hypertension and its cardiovascular complications and tens of thousands are unnecessarily disabled and/or die prematurely from it;

WHEREAS, the impact of premature death and disability is counted not only in the loss that families bear but also on the negative effects on our national productivity and socio-economic development;

WHEREAS, it is urgent that the different strategies in the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension be actively pursued to reduce hypertension-related deaths and disability.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the month of May of each year as "National Hypertension Awareness Month".

All government and non-governmental agencies, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are enjoined to collaborate and cooperate with the Philippine Society of Hypertension in advocating and implementing activities to prevent and control hypertension and its cardiovascular complication.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 1st day of May, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine. IDaEHS