Physicians group endorses Peace and Unity Swim

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine College of Physicians is endorsing the Philippine Peace and Unity Swim slated Dec. 10 at the Diliman Preparatory School in line with its nationwide health-consciousness program centered on an active lifestyle for Filipinos of all ages.

In a meeting with Susan Papa, president of the Susan Papa Swimming Academy, recently, PCP regent Dr. Anthony Leachon said the PCP would endorse the project, a 24-hour marathon swimming relay that also seeks to establish a new Guinness record, to the Philippine Medical Association, an association of doctors, nurses, technicians and hospital staff all over the Philippines.

The departments of health and education and the Philippine Sports Commission have also endorsed the event in line with EO 595 which enjoins government agencies to promote health education “so citizens will be empowered to take care of themselves, thus preventing diseases arising from lack of physical activity.”

“If we have healthy and educated individuals, we have a stronger community,” said Leachon.

The Peace and Unity Swim, an advocacy event spearheaded by former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, president and chief executive officer of the DPS, hopes to bring together over 6,000 swimmers from all walks of life – professionals, students, government officials, celebrities, national athletes or just plain ordinary folk – who will each swim the same distance in an 18.3 meter swimming pool over a 24-hour period.

The objective is to bring Filipinos together in a spirit of peace and unity and promote swimming as a worthwhile sport while seeking to break the record by 5,028 swimmers in a 24-hour marathon relay in Italy last July.

“The advocacy of the Philippine College of Physicians is the same as that of the DPS and the Susan Papa Swimming Academy, which are undertaking this worthwhile project to inculcate the importance of sports or any form of physical activity for the wellness of all Filipinos,” said Leachon.

Latest statistics (2004) show that cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes continue to be among the country’s top 10 killers.

Hypertension and diseases of the heart ranked fourth and seventh among the 10 leading causes of illness in 2006.

Noncommunicable diseases are often linked by common preventable risk factors related to lifestyle. The risk factors involved are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and alcohol use.

Dr. Leachon said that with the right amount of exercise, these diseases could be prevented .

“Swimming is a perfect sport, it doesn’t cause injuries, and we recommend it for people of all ages,” said Leachon.

In a study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 2003, it was found that 90 percent of Filipinos had one or more of the following risk factors: physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and abnormal cholesterol.

Among adults, 20 percent were overweight and 5 percent were obese, 22.5 percent were hypertensive, 60.5 percent were physically inactive, and a significant number had high blood cholesterol and sugar.

More than half (56 percent) of adult males and 12 percent of adult females are currently smokers, while alcohol use has risen steadily since the 1960s.