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| Tacloban City's award-winning program "New Beginnings" was one of the inspiring projects featured at the Healthy Pilipinas Media Forum held today, March 23. |
TACLOBAN CITY – Initiatives from four local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines were highlighted today, March 23, 2022, at the "Health Connect 10: DOH Healthy Pilipinas, Healthy Communities" Forum. The initiatives of these LGUs were recently recognized at the Healthy Pilipinas, Health Communities Award, which took place earlier this month.
Dr. Beverly Ho, Director IV of the Department of Health, led the discussion on the DOH Health Promotion Strategy and was joined by representatives from LGUs to discuss their respective LGUs' best health practices.
Mr. Guillermo Luz, Chief of Philippine Disaster Resiliences, and Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, also shared their perspectives. Mr. Christian Esguerra, a broadcast journalist, moderated the forum, including representatives from various media outlets.
The forum was started by a welcome remark by Mr. Teodoro Padilla, Executive Director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
Ricky Ducas, Nurse II, Mental Health Coordinator, and Teodora B. Catolos, Health Education and Promotion Officer III of Baguio City were the first to present their initiative, discussing their LGU's programs "Mental Health Program" and "Covid-19 Prevention and Control."
According to Ducas, the Mental Health Program began in 2019 and continued throughout the pandemic, providing communities with psychosocial and mental health support.
Meanwhile, Borbon LGU's Dr. Philip Balogo and Dr. Corazon V. Dotillos emphasized the benefits of their programs such as "Borbon Mental Health Warriors," "Healthy Nanay and Bulilit Program," and "Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health and Health Emergency Services."
Dr. Gloria Fabrigas of the Tacloban City Health Office spoke about how the "New Beginnings" program empowers people who abuse drugs to thrive, emphasizing the program's three core principles: (1) emphasis on the concerted efforts of every stakeholder, (2) acknowledgment of the role of the government; and (3) spirit of helping each other at all levels of care.
Dr. Fabrigas also illustrated the "New Beginnings Program's" strategic approach.
The last to present their award-winning initiative "BIDA Solusyon at Aksyon" was Dr. Myrna Cabral-Salome of Imelda LGU in Zamboaga Sibugay. The initiative takes an age-appropriate immunization approach, educating parents of school-aged children and guardians of senior citizens on the importance of vaccination.
Watch the Healthy Pilipinas Media Forum here to learn more about these LGUs' initiatives to provide a healthy community: