LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) -- The Bicol Center for Health Development (Bicol CHD) under the Department of Health (DOH) has recently launched a bi-weekly video magazine show titled, "BHW Me: Be Healthy With Me," which aims to promote health literacy and create awareness about the health services provided by DOH.

The show will use social media to raise awareness about different diseases and how to prevent them, according to Dr. Monrey Isaiah Mancilla, the head of the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Cluster and Health Promotion Unit.

“This show will focus on the training of barangay health workers in handling various health cases and communicating health services efficiently to their communities,” said Mancilla, who hosts the show.

Some barangay health workers (BHWs) from six provinces in the Bicol region will be hosting an online broadcast magazine to share their experiences and best practices in the field.

Mancilla said this initiative aims to provide BHWs with an additional platform to stay updated and informed about the latest regulations of the Department of Health (DOH), as well as to expand their knowledge about their job.

The BHWs will discuss various health-related topics, including important preventive tips, diseases, and immunization, among others, he added.

"We aim to provide value to our BHWs who travel to rural areas to serve residents in need of health services. We also strive to reach a wider audience of Bicolanos through digital platforms," he said.

"Our goal is to keep them well-informed about various health conditions so that they can take preventive measures and educate others to adopt a healthier lifestyle," he added.

The first episode of the show will be aired on the official Facebook page of DOH-Bicol CHD every Thursday at 2 p.m. during the first and second weeks of the month.

It will be replayed on the same schedule in the remaining weeks of the month. All employees of local government units and national government agencies in the region were invited to watch the pilot episode on Thursday, February 8, 2024, starting at 2 p.m.

The DOH-Bicol CHD, in partnership with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and Employment, recently issued a joint administrative order that promotes healthy habits in the workplace.

It is aimed at helping employees maintain a balanced lifestyle while rendering public service, Mancilla said.

According to Health Undersecretary Nestor Santiago, this initiative is aligned with the government's eight-point active agenda of the Universal Health Care Act and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve public knowledge about the government's actions in health development.

The show's producer, Mancilla, emphasized that if public servants are healthy, they can deliver their jobs efficiently and effectively, and contribute to nation-building.

The show's first episodes will focus on health diseases in observance of Philippine Heart Month and World Cancer Day.

In March, BHW Me will highlight important preventive tips and raise public awareness of rabies.

In the succeeding month, the show will define "health" and align the public's perception of it with that of the World Health Organization to provide a common compass and strategic ways to achieve health. It will also discuss the importance of immunization in the coming weeks.

Mancilla said that BHW Me aligns with the Universal Health Care Act's eight-point active agenda and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to improve public knowledge and awareness of the government's health development efforts.

"By implementing the UHC Act and using the BHW Me platform, people can locate and consult proper healthcare facilities and learn how to prevent various illnesses. This will provide them with opportunities to save their own lives," he added. (PIA 5)