TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, July 10 (PIA) -- The governor has ordered all employees of the provincial government to have at least 4-minute exercise twice a day and to undergo health examination.
Marvie Pauig, nutritionist and dietitian III, said Governor Manuel Mamba has issued the conduct of "hataw exercises within the office premises of every department since December 2017" and still being observed by employees up to this time.
Pauig was one of the guests during the July 9 episode of Tipon Tipan sa PIA on the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and National Nutrition Council's (NNC) lined-up activities for the Nutrition Month celebration.
“The employees should do short physical exercises every 10 o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock in the afternoon in their respective offices to avoid any health risk caused by prolonged sitting,” Pauig said.
Pauig said physical exercises are not necesarilly those extreme by nature but could be in the form of stretching, walking around the office, going to and from first to second floors, among others.
When asked on the how they monitor the compliance of all employees on the said order, Pauig said the department heads are responsible to look in to their respective staff.
On her part, Maria Gisela Lonzaga, program cordinator of the NNC here, said there are health complications associated with prolonged sitting.
Lonzaga who lauded the efforts of Governor Mamba and the PHO for the issuance of the said order said prolonged sitting is equivalent to a smoker. "Diseases can be developed due to habitual inactivity,” she added.
In an article published by Harvard Medical School, “habitual inactivity raises risks for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome”.
Aside from employees, Lonzaga also reiterated that even young children must exercise regularly as cases of obesity in the region are increasing among children due to inactivity, especially schoolchildren.
She said it is also attributed to the increasing screen time of the children when they are at home having more time in watching television and using electronic gadgets rather than playing or doing physical activities.
This year's theme of Nutrition Month is anchored on encouraging the public to actively engage themselves in physical activities and to eat balanced diet.
On the other hand, Pauig said all employees of the provincial government are entitled to a free laboratory examination at the PHO to create consciousness among employees on their health status.
However, she said there are some employees who are not conscious in submitting themselves for medical check-up resulting to the late diagnosis of their health complications.
“The governor wants every employee to be physical fit to work and healthy so that they can perform their respective jobs well to all Cagayanos,” Pauig said.
She said the examination is free and there are no reasons for all employees not to avail the service. (MDCT/OTB/PIA 2-Cagayan)
