Cardiologists in Negros Oriental are supporting a national initiative pushing for athletes’ cardiovascular screening as they officially organized themselves into a group promoting the slogan, “Heart-Healthy NegOr.”

The newly-created Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Negros Oriental-Dumaguete Chapter was launched Tuesday evening here with its officers sworn into office.

Dr. Brian Joseph Calinawagan, president of the local PHA, at a press conference before the induction event, disclosed activities lined up for the province, aside from the national initiative for athletes.

These include regular free hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, especially for athletes, since Dumaguete is known for runners, cyclists, divers, and swimmers, among others.

“The Heart-Healthy NegOr is our overall program for a CPR-ready Dumaguete City. Other activities include education campaign and we also aim to implement the programs of the PHA, and other preventive cardiology projects, including fitness and exercise,” Calinawagan said.

Lectures, forums, linkages with different training institutions in the provinces, and schools/universities are eyed as partners for the Heart-Healthy NegOr campaign.

“The chapter will also conduct talks/dialogues and create an environment of proactive participation of all athletes engaged in competitive sports,” Calinawagan said.

The chapter also supports the PHA’s call for the development of a national framework for athlete cardiovascular screening to prevent sudden cardiac death among athletes.

Meanwhile, PHA national president Dr. Walid Amil said they target to reach as many areas in the Philippines and bring their existing advocacies to the grassroots level.

The PHA’s priority programs for 2025 to 2026 include one cardiologist for every city; and the PhilCardio Registry, a PHA-initiated national research of global impact, global training for the cardiology fellow in-training, and CPR-ready barangays.

Amil led the induction of officers, board of directors, and advisers of the PHA Negros Oriental-Dumaguete chapter. (PNA)