Campaign for healthy lifestyle intensified | NanyaMuju

By Charlene Cayabyab

Friday, August 19, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Department of Health (DOH) has intensified its campaign for a healthy lifestyle to prevent the occurrence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

DOH-Central Luzon Director Rio Magpantay said NCDs now dominate the list of leading causes of death in the region.

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NCDs include heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney diseases and chronic respiratory diseases.

Magpantay said these diseases are brought about by unhealthy diet, inadequate physical activity, tobacco use and intake of alcohol.

As its initial step, the DOH organized a group of government employees into the Health and Lifestyle Organization (Halo).

The Halo members completed a five-day training on the Integrated Non- Communicable Disease program.

Workplace wellness programs were incorporated in the activities of government agencies after this training.

Magpantay also initiated the “Takbo, Bilis, Takbo Para sa Koalisyon” fun run to promote the Healthy Lifestyle to the Max campaign.

Some 500 government officials and employees gathered at the Bren Guiao Sports Complex and joined the run.

The first two were the “Sampung Libong Hakbang Para Sa Koalisyon” and the “Search for the Biggest Loser for 2010.”

Since tobacco use is another leading preventable cause of death, the DOH is now campaigning for smoking cessation.

It recently conducted the MPOWER Training for government offices where the Tobacco Control Policy was extensively discussed.

For those who would want to avail of smoking cessation intervention, they may contact Dr. Maila Rostrata of the DOH Regional Office or Aleta Soliman of the San Fernando City Health Office.

Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on August 20, 2011.