CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — “Mas madalas kayong nakakasama ng mga bata, kaya sana ay huwag lang kayo basta magturo, i-monitor din ninyo ang kalusugan nila, pagmasdan ninyo ang asal nila, dahil baka mamaya, may problema na pala sila, hindi lang sila umiimik.”
Thus, acting Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda enjoined 663 public school heads of Pampanga during an assembly at the Kingsborough International Convention Center here on Oct. 18.
Pineda herself called the assembly to present to the education frontliners and stakeholders the Alagang Nanay Preventive Healthcare Program recently passed by the provincial board.
Expressing “deep concern” over the 61 cases of suicide – three of whom were minors – reported by the Pampanga police from January to October 10 this year, Pineda has caused mental health, especially among the youth, as an integral component of the Alagang Nanay program.
The acting governor also called on the public to “end the stereotyping” of people with mental concerns.
“Hindi naman lahat ng nagpapa-psychiatrist ay sira-ulo, e. Normal lang ‘yon. Ako nga, kumokonsulta rin ako sa psychiatrist, pero maayos naman ako. Kailangan nating lahat ‘yon, dahil minsan nai-stress tayo, nag-iinit ulo natin, nagkakaproblema tayo, minsan kailangan din natin ng mental health professional na tutulong at magpapayo sa ‘tin kung paano natin iha-handle nang maayos ang mga problema natin,” she said.
At the assembly, Dr. Mikaela Marie Medina, mental health physician at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, shared insights on “signs to watch out for” in people suffering from depression and “talking to the suicidal.”
Other health issues discussed by invited specialists were tuberculosis, hypertension, cardiac diseases, among others.
“Kung anuman ang nalaman ng mga principal sa naging lecture natin ngayon, ipapasa nila ‘yon sa mga titser nila. Importante kasi na kasama natin sila sa programa nating preventive healthcare, dahil hindi lang matatanda ang pokus natin dito, kasama rin ang mga bata,” said Pineda. Punto News Team/Pampanga PIO
