“Health is Wealth”, especially for the city employees working in the field, with this, the City Government of Valenzuela headed by the City Health Office launched a weight loss program titled “Health Check – Belly Good!” for the employees of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) held at the Audio-Visual Room, City External Services Office (CESO) on February 16, 2023.

“Health Check – Belly Good!” is part of the program under the Non-Communicable Disease Control Prevention Program of the city which aims to lessen the cases of obesity and other non-communicable diseases among the city employees. 

In January 2023, the City Health Office conducted an assessment to a total of 324 employees from Public Safety Division (PSD), Traffic Management Office (TMO), Valenzuela City Transportation Office (VCTO), Sidewalk Cleaning Operation Group (SCOG), Anti-Squatting Task Force (ASTF), Sidewalk Clearing Operation Group (SCOG), Waste Management Office (WMO), Flood Control Unit, Clean and Green, Tubig Patrol, and Motorpool wherein 56 of them were categorized as overweight or obese. 

During the program launching, these 56 employees were oriented for the weight loss challenge, where they were counseled and advised for possible solutions for their weight. They will also undergo monthly monitoring until September 2023 in time for the Obesity Awareness Week.

Basic blood-screening, risk assessment, and healthy lifestyle promotion was also held and presented during the event.

In an interview, City Health Officer, Dr. Marthony Basco expressed the importance of the program for the POSO personnel, “Napansin natin, na sa ating mga empleyado dito sa TMO, PSD, Sanitation, etcetera, ay mayroon silang tatlong nangungunang physical conditions kagaya ng obesity, diabetes, pati na rin hypertension. Ang lahat ng iyan ay nakita natin sa ating risk assessment dito sa Action Center clinic, kaya naman meron tayo nitong programang ito kung saan inaalagaan natin ang kanilang kalusugan dahil inaalagaan naman nila ang mga Valenzuelano. Ang prinsipyo po natin ay kung inaalagaan natin sila, ay magiging mas maalaga din sila sa kanilang serbisyo. Ang programang ito ay isa lamang sa programa ng ating lungsod na nag-aalaga sa ating mga empleyado.” [We noticed that among our employees here in TMO, PSD, Sanitation, etcetera, they commonly experience these three things: obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. All of these were noticed through the risk assessments held here at the Action Center clinic. That is why we hold these programs to take care of our employees, because they are also taking care of Valenzuelanos. Our principle here is that if we take good care of them, they will also perform well in their tasks. This is just one of our city’s programs in taking care of our employees.]

With this, the city government will continue initiating programs that will ensure that the healthiness and good well-being of its employees are maintained which will then result in better services for all the Valenzuelanos.

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