MANILA, Philippines - After its sojourn to Pangasinan during its fiesta month, the Department of Health (DOH) brought the colorful and festive Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) health promotion caravan to Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.
“While every childbirth is cause for celebration of the miracle of life, too many mothers die because of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth,” says DOH Secretary Enrique T. Ona, adding that women ought to be better prepared in welcoming a new life and this is possible with proper maternal health care.
The DOH explained that the LBK caravan aims to bring critical information on health practices to Filipino families, especially those in rural barangays. It includes a bus as a mobile counseling and examination clinic, an interactive health exhibit, sing and dance-along sessions, storytelling sessions, and games on health.
LBK highlights the important message of seeking proper care during pregnancy in health facilities. Mothers and fathers were enjoined to experience and learn how to make pregnancy and childbirth safer both for the mother and for the life inside her.
“The LBK is a good way of showing Filipinos that they are the drivers of their own health,” points out Secretary Ona. “I invite the Novo Ecijanos to join DOH in this leg of the journey.”