Allianz Philippines recently received a presidential citation from the Philippine Heart Association for staunchly supporting its advocacy projects geared toward creating awareness and lay education about cardiovascular health. This is the second year that the company received the award. It is the only non-pharmaceutical company to have done so.
“The numbers are alarming when it comes to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Angina, for one, has caused 17.3 million deaths each year. As a company that advocates health protection, we consider it our duty to do our share in promoting awareness about heart health,” said Gae Martinez, Allianz Philippines chief marketing officer, who received the award on behalf of the company during the 50th PHA Annual Convention at the Conrad Hotel in Manila.
Allianz Philippines was the Official Life Insurance Partner of the PHA in its celebration of Heart Month last February. For two years running, the company has also been the PHA’s partner for its Camp Braveheart. Conceptualized in 2007, the program seeks to encourage children who were born with heart disease and have undergone surgery to live a normal life like other kids. During the said event, Allianz conducted a financial literacy exercise for the participating kids’ parents.
Also, last February, Allianz Philippines sponsored the PHA’s Heart Fair in Tacloban as well as the launch of their Angina Awareness campaign in K. Kangleon, Palo, Leyte. Angina is one of the symptoms of coronary heart disease and is the world’s number one killer, according to the World Health Federation. Cardiovascular disease is now considered an epidemic that is projected to cause 52 million deaths in 2030 unless measures are taken.
Allianz and the PHA have, likewise, partnered in a nationwide Health Caravan that went to the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Cebu, and Manila. PHA doctors delivered lectures educating bankers and agents about angina and the 502100 campaign, which encourages people to live a healthy active lifestyle.
More recently, Allianz and the PHA launched the Fit Heart Minute videos, which aims to teach Filipinos to be more active. They consist of one-minute exercise videos featuring Dr. Rey as well as fitness coaches and TV host Jim and Toni Saret.