Novartis, PSH launch 'dancexercise' tilt during World Hypertension Day

MANILA, Philippines - For the third consecutive year, research-based healthcare company Novartis Healthcare Philippines and the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH), in cooperation with the Philippine Heart Association, Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) and the Department of Health (DOH), led the country’s commemoration of World Hypertension Day (WHD) last Monday.

In line with this year’s WHD theme “Healthy Weight, Healthy Blood Pressure,” Novartis and PSH, together with their partners, launched the “Healthy Weight Dancexercise Contest.”  

“Our goal is to encourage Filipinos from all age groups to maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure through ‘dancexercise,’” said Eric van Oppens, president and CEO, of Novartis Healthcare Philippines. 

The 2008 National Nutrition and Health Survey revealed that 25.3 percent of all Filipino adults have hypertension, while 27 out of every 100 are either overweight or obese.

“Hypertension and obesity increase a person’s risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. A healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity is crucial in preventing cardiovascular disease-related sickness and death,” said PSH president Dr. Abdias Aquino.

“The DOH is pleased to continue its partnership with Novartis and local medical societies in promoting a healthy lifestyle. We urge all Filipinos to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle to prevent obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease,” said Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

“Dance exercise is an effective and enjoyable way to lose excess pounds and maintain optimal weight and blood pressure,” said Tourism Undersecretary Cynthia Carrion.

The Healthy Weight Dancexercise Contest has various categories: seniors (aged 60 and above), midlifers (aged 35 to 59) and young adults (aged 18 to 34). A “dancexercise” group can consist of one person to a maximum of six members.

Participants must choreograph their own dance exercise routine (maximum length: three minutes) following the theme “Healthy Weight, Healthy Blood Pressure.”

They must videotape their dance exercise routine and submit the video entry by either e-mailing the video file to [email protected] via “yousendit” (log on to www.yousendit.com) or sending (via courier) the video CD/DVD of their dance exercise routine to Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Asian Reinsurance Building, Legaspi cor. Salcedo Sts., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Deadline for submission of video entries is June 18.

A board of judges composed of medical and dance exercise experts will determine the top three winners in each category.

The winners will be announced as soon as possible after the deadline for submission of video entries. They will also be notified via e-mail and featured in a TV program.

Cash prizes will be awarded per category, as follows: first prize — P50,000; second prize — P30,000; third prize — P15,000.

For complete contest rules, log on to www.novartis.com.ph. Go to Facebook to discover more about the Healthy Weight Dancexercise Contest or visit Healthy Weight Dancexercise Contest Twitter page http://twitter.com/DancexerciseWHD.

“Keep your blood pressure under 120/80 by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat and salt, exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week, lose excess weight, limit your alcohol intake, and do not smoke,” said Aquino.

“The Dancexercise Contest is part of the Novartis Kaagapay patient access program. Through the contest, we hope to promote public awareness and interest in regular physical activity to help Filipinos maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure,” said Christine Liwanag, corporate affairs and market access director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.