Officials of Barangay San Pedro recently inked a partnership with the Adventist Hospital Palawan (AHP) for “Freedom Days: A Life Free from Disease”, a health initiative to gain freedom from non-communicable diseases by changing lifestyle choices.
The understanding agreement was signed on February 28 by San Pedro officials with AHP for the program to reach their residents, said councilor Roy Oniot, who is also chairman of the health committee of the barangay.
Oniot said they signed the agreement with hopes that it will address health problems in San Pedro, especially those with non-communicable disease problems.
“May signing tayo with the Adventist Hospital kasi nakita natin ‘yong program nila na ‘Life Free from Diseases’ na angkop naman sa ating programa sa hypertension and diabetes club. Sa memorandum of agreement ay buwan-buwan magkakaroon ng activity ang San Pedro at Adventist Hospital para ma-address ‘yong iba’t-ibang sakit, mga non-communicable diseases, especially hypertension at diabetes,” he said.
Oniot said they had a joint program with Adventist Hospital which focuses on malnutrition.
He said the hospital has been helpful in San Pedro’s health goals for its residents.
“Matagal na silang tumutulong sa atin — every medical mission, pero last year nag-reach out din sila sa amin at nagtanong kung paano sila makakatulong sa community natin which is kami ‘yon ang barangay San Pedro. Ang una naming partnership is ‘yong sa malnutrition at ito naman po ngayon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kenneth Bermeo, chief operating officer of AHP said that the agreement with San Pedro is about residents starting to live life by making better lifestyle choices.
Bermeo mentioned that the goal of the program is to orient the people and practice a sugar-free Sunday, meat-free Monday, Trash-free Tuesday, Waist-free Wednesday, Thirst-free Thursday, Fat-free Friday and stress-Free Friday.
“Ang memorandum of understanding between AHP and Barangay San Pedro is about the freedom days, a life free from diseases program, ito na para magsimula ng mga healthy practices. This program aims na ang mga tao dito sa Barangay San Pedro ay matulungan natin na malaman nila at ma-ipractice nila ‘yong tamang healthy practices para humaba ang kanilang buhay with a better quality of life,” he said.
Bermeo added that they want to make sure that the partnership could help with their vision that every resident of the barangay will be healthy.
“Ito we wanted to make sure the partnership with barangay para dito i-hold ang venue so that we can align sa program ng barangay na every resident is healthy, nakasaad doon na we will not let the barangay pay so wi-naive namin ang more than a million fees for free, 100 percent subsidized,” he said.
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