The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) is advising the public to be mindful of safe and healthy ways to celebrate the holiday season.

Health Promotion Unit head, Dr. Fritzi Ann Suzette Jeroso-Dequito said the department advocates for “Ligtas Christmas sa Healthy Pilipinas”, which has three components –Healthy Handaan (feast), Healthy Celebration and Iwas Paputok (avoiding use of firecrackers), in ensuring the success of the advocacy.

“The campaign for Christmas is not only focused on Iwas Paputok. But it is also focused on having a healthy diet and having a healthy celebration amidst all the Christmas parties that we have,” she said in a press conference on Tuesday.

For the Healthy Handaan, the department advocates for the “Pinggang Pinoy”, an easy-to-understand food guide, encouraging every Filipino family to have a well-balanced, well-moderated, varied diet and limit the intake of sugary beverages and food while partnering with an active lifestyle this season, she said.

The healthy celebration refers to physical and mental health. For physical health, the wearing of masks for those feeling under the weather and frequent hand washing are encouraged.

For those going through difficult situations, the Mental Health Connect Crisis hotline of the department is ready to accept and attend to calls, she added.

Further, giving safe and age-appropriate gifts suitable for the development of children is encouraged.

Dequito added they always campaign for the prevention of firecracker-related injuries, especially since this city has its own fireworks industry.

She said instead of using firecrackers, the use of alternative instruments that can produce noise is encouraged under the Iwas Paputok drive.

“The LGUs (local government units) are also encouraged to have their campaigns in relation to prevention of fireworks-related injury,” she added. (PNA)