JASMINE D. JASO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Provincial Government of Pampanga convened 8,088 Nanay Community Workers (NCWs) to give updates on disaster preparedness and preventive healthcare at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on Monday.
Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda led the said convention attended by NCWs from all over the province.
“Mahalaga kayo sa amin, kayo ang pangunahing inaasahan namin sa pagtulong sa mga may-sakit sa mga barangay. Kaya sana, kung may nararamdaman din kayo sa inyong mga katawan, huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa ‘min,” said Governor Delta.
In her speech, Vice Governor Nanay also reiterated that the provincial government ‘always’ prioritizes the needs of the NCWs because of their significant role in the success, especially of the health programs of the province.
“Huwag kayong matakot, magagaling ang mga doktor natin. Unahin niyo ang mga sarili ninyo, dahil kung wala kayo, wala nang katuwang ang Kapitolyo sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga programa para sa ating mga Cabalen,” said Vice Governor Nanay.
Earlier, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Angelina Blanco said that NCWs are of great help during disasters as she discussed updates on disaster risk information and community disaster preparedness measures.
“Nakita naman natin ang iba’t-ibang epekto ng sakuna na dulot ng climate change. Sana tulungan ninyo kami sa kanya-kanya ninyong mga barangay. Kahit sa simpleng pagtatapon lang ng basura sa tamang tapunan, malaking tulong na ‘yon para mabawasan ang mga problema natin sa pabagu-bagong klima,” she said.
Blanco also asked the cooperation of the NCWs in the Citizens Application, which will serve as a database for all the patients under the Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare Program.
Furthermore, Dr. Sherwin Joseph Sarmiento, internal medicine physician, raised the attendees’ awareness of various ways to prevent disease proliferation.
“Mayroon tayong two risk factors: the non-modifiable and modifiable. ‘Pag sinabing non-modifiable, maaaring ito ay dahil sa edad, kasarian, o kaya naman ay namamana. Pero kapag ito naman ay modifiable, marami tayong magagawa para maiwasan ang paglala ng sakit, gaya ng pag-iwas sa stress, pagda-diet, exercise, at pag-iwas sa mga bisyo gaya ng paninigarilyo at pag-inom ng alak,” he said, as he stressed that early detection and prevention is better than cure.
Sarmiento also lauded Governor Delta and Vice Governor Nanay for formulating the Provincial Ordinance No. 834, also known as the “Alagang Nanay Preventive Health Care Ordinance of 2022.”
“Through this ordinance, agaran nating matutukoy ang sakit ng pasyente, at maiiwasan natin ang anumang komplikasyon,” he said.
-Photo by Jasmine Jaso/Pampanga PIO
