Feeding of kids at NGC

          Around 500 indigent children from barangays of Bacolod City were treated to a hearty afternoon snack by Chowking, at the lobby of the Bacolod Government Center, that was attended by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Councilor Caesar Distrito, a press release from the city said.

          Sayson thanked Pia Quintana, the food-chain’s local store marketing head, for the treat to children of Barangays 4l, 27, 2l, Bata, Estefania, Taculing, Magsungay, Mandalagan, Villamonte and Sum-ag.

          He said that proper feeding of the children is imperative because the mental development of malnourished ones is slow, and that, as the hope of the future, their  nutrition should be given primary importance.

          Sayson and Distrito, on behalf of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, have time and again emphasized the city’s thrust to improve the health of the citizenry, especially  impoverished youngsters, the press release also said.*

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DOH to give vaccines to indigent elderly

MANILA -- The Department of Health will have a repeat of its free pneumonia and influenza vaccines to indigent senior citizens aged 60 years old and above, who are commonly afflicted by these diseases due to weakened immune system.

"About 1,043,745 pneumoccocal and influenza vaccines will be giving out for our elderly as part programs in providing affordable and quality health care services they deserve," said Health Secretary Enrique Ona, referring to families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

Last year, the DOH gave 197,000 pneumoccocal and 173,000 influenza vaccines to elderly at selected localities.

This is in line with observance of the World Health Day by the World Health Organization on April 7 of each year, which focused in 2012 on Ageing and Health, with the global theme "Good health adds life to years", and locally adapted to "Healthy Lifestyle: Banat ni Lolo, Hirit ni Lola."

The DOH also conducts a "Summer Camp ni Lolo and Lola" every May and supports the "Walk for Life" for elderly in October. Also, the guidelines to implement the provisions relevant to health of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2012 is being finalized prior to signing of the Secretary of Health.

This campaign aims to empower older persons to live longer through healthy lifestyle and extend their active involvement in all levels of society.

At present, there are seven million senior citizens (6.9 percent of the total population) in the Philippines, of whom 1.3 million are indigents.*PNA

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20 people killed, 62 injured
during Holy Week: NDRRMC

MANILA - At least 20 people died and 62 were injured in various parts of the country during the Holy Week observance, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said yesterday.

In its report, NDRRMC said the 20 fatalities included victims of drowning, fire incidents, and vehicular and maritime accidents.

Of the 62 people who were reported injured, it said, 61 resulted from vehicular accidents and one from a maritime incident.

The agency also reported that two people are still missing in a maritime incident.* (PNA)

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