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Ex-health chief seeks nationwide 'health promotion,' lifting of lockdowns

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Gillan Ropero, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/21/20200904-anonas-ave-face-mask-jc-09.jpg"/><figcaption>People pass by an intersection with a religious statue on Anonas Street in Quezon City on September 04, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - A former health secretary said Monday he supports the lifting of lockdowns and urged government to launch health promotion campaigns in the community level to prevent COVID-19 transmission.Sleeping for 8 hours, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise, and eating vegetables are just as important as handwashing and wearing of face masks and face shield, according to Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan.&quot;Ang pagpapalaganap ng kalusugan at pagpapanatili ng kaginhawaan, napakahalaga nito hindi lang lift the lockdown,&quot; he told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo.(Promoting health is very important, not just lifting the lockdown.)&quot;Marami po ito, ito ang tinatawag kong resetang walang gastos. Gusto natin pambansa ilulunsad ito.&quot;(There are many advise, what I call prescriptions without cost. We would like this to be launched nationwide.The Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines (CDC-PH) last week launched the #FlattenTheFear campaign which urges government to end lockdowns.&quot;Kailangan kaalinsabay dito ang paglunsad ng health promotion campaigns sa mga barangay, all the 42,000 barangays kasi kailangan natin ng pag-iwas ng sakit sa barangay at home level,&quot; Galvez Tan said.(This needs to be hand-in-hand with health promotion campaigns in all 42,000 barangays because we need to prevent the disease in the barangay and home level.)<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RVTo9ioB-34?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>The former health chief cited as examples the Philippines&#x27; Southeast Asian neighbors Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia that did not impose lockdowns for very long.&quot;Ang ginawa ng mga bansang ito ay tanggalin ang hospital oriented na strategy to a community-based strategy. Tayo masyado tayong nakatutok sa ospital pero ang totoo ang transmission ng COVID ay nasa community,&quot; he said.(These countries shifted from a hospital-oriented strategy to a community-based strategy. We&#x27;re too focused on hospitals but transmission happens in the community.)&quot;Ang community di natin binibigyan ng kapangyarihan. Nandyan po talaga ang community empowerment, mobilization na siya po talagang makakapigil sa transmission ng COVID.&quot;(We need to give power to the community. We need to empower, mobilize them to prevent COVID transmission.)Government in August launched a community-based management of the virus as local transmissions rose due to virus patients being quarantined inside their homes instead of isolation facilities.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/03/20/public-urged-to-cooperate-as-govt-focuses-on-community-covid-19-response">Public urged to cooperate as govt focuses on community COVID-19 response</a></li></ul>The Philippines as of Sunday reported 286,743 cases of COVID-19, with 229,865 recoveries and 4,984 deaths.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/20/20/philippines-covid-19-tally-hits-286743-as-death-toll-nears-5000">Philippines&#x27; COVID-19 tally hits 286,743 as death toll nears 5,000</a></li></ul>

A former health secretary said Monday he supports the lifting of lockdowns and urged government to launch health promotion campaigns in the community level to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

A former health secretary said Monday he supports the lifting of lockdowns and urged government to launch health promotion campaigns in the community level to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Ex-health chief seeks nationwide 'health promotion,' lifting of lockdowns

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Ex-health chief seeks nationwide 'health promotion,' lifting of lockdowns

Gillan Ropero,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 21, 2020 11:32 AM PHT

Read More:

Teleradyo

Jaime Galvez Tan

lockdowns

COVID-19 lockdowns

COVID-19

coronavirus

health promotion

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