“Jam Steps” maneuvered diseases away

by Micah Lucero

The Department of Health led an aerobic dance exercise campaign entitled “Jam steps” which aimed to promote healthy lifestyle in the country in the Quezon City Elliptical Circle last September 21.

The campaign, headed by DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, also aims to prevent Filipinos from acquiring non-communicable diseases such as Asthma and Diabetes.

Director Eduardo Janairo of Center of Health Development of National Capital Region (DOH-CHD-NCR) also participated in the said campaign.

The World Health Organization said that about 90% of Filipinos suffer from diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes and others as reported on the sixth National Nutrition and Health Survey conducted on 2003.

Ona suggested that healthy lifestyles must be promoted specially to the youth to prevent them from smoking which may cause smoking-related non-communicable diseases. Moreover, Director Janairo explained that this movement was a support to the passage of the Sin tax Bill, which aims to reduce the mortality rate brought about by tobacco consumption.

Further more, Janairo emphasized that this kind of campaign can be effective without rallying on the streets. He pointed that this will serve as an invitation to every Filipino to change the phase of their lifestyles.

This aerobic dance was developed in Bacolod City and performed by “Ang batang Pinoy Movement” to demonstrate that youth can be advocates of healthy living even at their young age.

This activity also calls on the children to have healthier preferences to prevent diseases.

According to Director Janairo “Leading a healthy lifestyle can do more than prevent diseases. It can make our body strong, stay healthy, more alert, fight stress and live longer life. We are able, in preventing diseases and enjoying at the same time.”