The City Health Services Office (CHSO) will expand programs in 2026 to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“A change in lifestyle is needed, and we will expand our programs accordingly. There will be more campaigns, lectures, and activities to help encourage the public to choose healthy options,” Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, city health officer, said in a media interview on Friday.

She said the programs will target the top 10 causes of morbidity and mortality, mainly cardiovascular and NCDs, with cardiovascular disease ranking first in Baguio.

“Manekjad,” a local program promoting walking to work or school, will be strengthened with organized weekend outdoor events, such as nature walks, to address mental health and respiratory issues.

Brillantes said the city successfully tackled chronic respiratory diseases through the anti-tobacco campaign but now focuses on vaping, which some smokers are shifting to, aiming to fully address these diseases.

The entire city is a non-smoking zone, enforced by police, barangay officials and deputized implementers.

Brillantes cited strict alcohol-serving enforcement as a cause of road accidents.

The city government continually conducts roadside vehicle emission tests to combat air pollution.

She also asked for public support for the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) convergence center at the Baguio Convention Center, which operates evenings and weekends for individuals seeking confidentiality who are unable to visit during working hours.

“We want everybody to know their HIV status because that is the only way they can be brought for treatment and prevent the spread of the disease,” Brillantes said.

Cleanup drives will also continue, as the fight against dengue remains a priority with the disease becoming a year-round issue.

More mental health programs and activities will also be implemented.

“The cases of suicide in 2025 are alarming. Although we have done so much, it is not yet enough, and we will engage with the other agencies, barangays, and the private sector for the mental health program,” Brillantes said.

She urged the public to use the services of the 16 district health centers in the city for regular checkups, not just when they are sick, to ensure better health. (PNA)