Asian Hospital partners with the Department of Health to introduce a public health campaign

Asian Hospital partners with the Department of Health to introduce a public health campaign

In a bold move to combat the leading causes of heart disease, Asian Hospital and Medical Center partnered with the Department of Health on May 31, 2025 to launch a major public health campaign targeting atherosclerosis and smoking—the two main culprits behind heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions.

“Smoking does not only harm your lung health—it quickly hastens the progression of atherosclerosis, silently attacking your blood vessels and putting your heart and brain at risk. Given this serious threat, prevention must begin now,” said Dr. Beaver R. Tamesis, Asian Hospital’s President and CEO.

Ate Rose®, a coined name created by Asian Hospital for Atherosclerosis, is a silent menace that develops slowly over time which blocks the arteries, reducing blood flow to several vital organs of the body. One of the most critical risk factors to be aware of is smoking, as it rapidly damages blood vessels and significantly increases the likelihood of serious health complications.

Smoking destroys the cells that line the blood vessels, multiply plaque buildup, and causes the hardening and narrowing of blood vessels. This campaign inspires the public to embrace a healthy lifestyle while raising awareness about smoking’s role in worsening atherosclerosis.

Early this year, Asian Hospital introduced a hands-on advocacy that highlights the prevention of Atherosclerosis (also known as Ate Rose®). This initiative featured the launch of communication materials and introduced the “Ate Rose® Card”—a special package developed for Atherosclerosis screening.

Asian Hospital and Medical Center, together with the Department of Health, is taking a united stand to lower the cases of atherosclerosis and considerably cut down smoking use. Key partners in the medical community strongly support this campaign including the Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital, and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians.