Department of Health’s (DOH) Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan (LBK) bus, a health promotion fiesta caravan will travel the entire Mindanao in July. South Cotabato will be its first stop.Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, provincial health officer of South Cotabato yesterday announced that the LBK bus will be in Barangay Aflek, T’boli on July 6 and 7 as an important activity before the province’s T’nalak Festival.
LBK is a program led by the DOH in collaboration with local government units and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the private sector.
It uses the concept of a traveling bus as a platform for the LGUs to reach families and communities with messages on health practices, particularly concerning maternal and child care, in a more festive mood.
“Barangay Aflek was chosen as venue of the LBK because our accomplishment in the maternal and child care program in the area is low. Besides, Barangay Aflek is situated as such that it is accessible to other neighboring barangays that also need to be reached,” he said.
“The caravan is set up like a fiesta. During these two days we, along with the staff of the Lakbay Buhay Kalusugan, will be giving maternal health services and health education to communities. While mothers are listening to health education lectures and or receiving necessary health services, children are catered to games and fun,” he added.
Among the messages being promoted by LBK are: pregnant women must have at least four pre-natal visits and have a birth plan to be better prepared for child delivery; births should be spaced at least three years apart for the benefit of mother and child; births must be attended by a skilled health worker in a health facility; and babies must be breastfed exclusively for the first six months to become smarter and healthier. (PIA 12)
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