Biyaheng Kalusugan of the Department of Health (DOH) visited Paniqui New Public Market in Tarlac. It pursues a campaign for a Healthy Pilipinas through exercising and eating nutritious food following the Pinggang Pinoy guide.
In his message, DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Rodley Carza underscored the importance of nutrition and information caravans in the communities to encourage the seven healthy habits namely move more, eat right; be clean, live sustainably; get vaccinated; don’t smoke, avoid alcohol, say no to drugs; care for yourself, care for others; practice safe sex; and do no harm, put safety first.
“We bring with us different activities to provide knowledge and tips in moving more and eating right such as preparing affordable yet healthy and nutritious food for your families because of our mission to keep every Filipino healthy for a Healthy Pilipinas,” Carza said.
Activities of the caravan include the Pinggang Pinoy parade; a dance competition that was participated by barangay health workers, child development workers, and barangay nutrition scholars; Mamalengke with me which is a segment showcasing a mother buying healthy food for a family of four with a given budget; and Presyong tama ba? Which is a game identifying the prices of each given balanced meals.
Carza added that every Biyaheng Kalusugan visiting various regions in the country focuses on different healthy habits in support of the eight-point agenda of DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, particularly point number five which targets to promote healthy cities, islands, and schools to prevent diseases.
“Under the Universal Health Care Law, one percent of the department’s budget is allocated for health promotion which is translated to activities such as this as an effort to ensure the sustainability of the plan,” he explained.
For her part, Vice Mayor Aida “Bien” Roxas expressed her gratitude to DOH for extending their services to the residents of the municipality.
National Nutrition Council Region III Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rosaldo likewise shared other programs and activities in Central Luzon that promote proper nutrition and physical activities.
“We have school on the air where we discuss topics that help promote health like breastfeeding for the first 1,000 days of the baby and yearly, we evaluate and monitor the nutrition plans of local government units where we also recognize top performing provinces, municipalities, and cities,” Rosaldo said.
The caravan will make its next stop in Laoag City. (PIA 3)
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