GATE pushes Pangasinan as home to healthiest Filipinos

Lingayen- - -Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. urged all Pangasinenses to do their share in making the province the home of healthiest and happiest people in the country.
He made his appeal during the regular flag raising ceremony on July 6 at the Capitol plaza here coinciding with the 35th Nutrition Month Celebration kick-off spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
The governor said that the province has gained significant accomplishments in the field of health for the past two years starting off with the massive renovation or rehabilitation of all 14 government hospitals aside from the establishment of a Dialysis Center in San Carlos City and the universal enrolment of some 185,000 indigent families to PhilHealth.
Pangasinan occupies the top post in the most number of enrollees in the entire country, to date.
This, according to him, will not be realized, however, without the support of the Pangasinense people who are seeking for transformation and reform after suffering from years of neglect and stagnation not just in health care but in other aspects of development.
He likewise thanked the provincial employees for their cooperation and unity.
Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, on the other hand, said that the provincial government is doing its best to provide direct medical health care to the ‘poorest of the poor.’
According to him, the establishment of a Dialysis Center within the compound of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City equipped with 15 dialysis machines and slated to dry run this Thursday, July 9, with initial four patients to be treated, is a manifestation of the present administration’s earnest effort to improve health services in Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jackson Soriano, PHO Officer-in- Charge identified various events in line with the month-long Nutrition Celebration that includes nutrition forum, toothbrushing and handwashing activities in all barangays province-wide, deworming and feeding projects for malnourished public elementary school pupils.
He further mentioned seven tips to a healthy lifestyle as follows: 1) no smoking, 2) don’t drink alcohol, 3) no to illegal drugs, 4) eat low fat, low salt, high fiber diet, 5) prevent hypertension, 6) do physical activities, 7) manage stress.
This year’s theme is “Wastong Nutrisyon Kailangan, Lifestyle Diseases Iwasan.” (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)