(Photo courtesy: GDA/PIA-10)
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | DOH NorthMin urges public to adopt healthy habits
By: Gabriel D. Andres
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-10) is urging the public to practice habits as the New Year begins, in line with the national “12 Healthy Habits Ngayong 2026” campaign being promoted across the region.
The campaign outlines 12 health habits, one for each month, aligned with the DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda, which continues to guide health promotion efforts in Northern Mindanao.
The habits include regular physical activity, balanced meals using the Pinggang Pinoy method, routine immunization, annual medical check-ups, road safety, prevention of substance abuse, reproductive health, and proper personal hygiene.
Dr. Maryanne Sharlene Waga-Isidro, medical officer and head of the Communications and Health Education Promotions Unit of DOH-10, said the campaign encorages Filipinos to prioritize health as part of daily life.
“[This] is a simple yet powerful guide toward a healthier Filipino nation. This guide makes healthy living easy to remember and practice anytime, anywhere,” Isidro said, highlighting the use of familiar terms that help make said health habits easier to recall and adopt.
The campaign supports local initiatives addressing lifestyle-related conditions and preventable diseases, including dengue, HIV, and vaccine-preventable illnesses, amid continuing urbanization and development in Northern Mindanao.
DOH-10 said information materials and reminders will be disseminated in communities in coordination with local health offices, aired through its regular radio program “Tsada Kalusugan,” and integrated into various health promotion activities across the region throughout the year.
The agency also encouraged families, schools, and workplaces to consistently practice healthy behaviors, noting that daily choices can form long-term habits that contribute to better health outcomes.
“When we choose health, our actions become habits, rewarding us with a strong body, a healthy mind, and the better life we all deserve,” said Isidro. (GDA/PIA-10)
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