The Health & Wellness Confex 2024, which opened Jan. 26, at the SMX Center in Pasay City, was a “resounding success,” organizers said.
The event, a three-day gathering of health and tourism industry stakeholders, ran until Sunday, Jan. 28, was attended by such luminaries as Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Myra Paz
Valderrosa-Abubakar, and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.
In his keynote address, Herbosa said supporting wellness tourism is now a priority for the DOH. This was confirmed by Dr. Maria Francia Miciano-Laxamana, DOH unde secretary for medical tourism, who pointed out in her presentation that ensuring the safety and health of tourists is a major department objective.
Meanwhile, Abalos emphasized the importance of being healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle. He talked about his mother’s passing due to the coronavirus back in 2022. While it was a tragedy, he said it also marked the beginning of his health and wellness journey.
“While at the hospital, I had nothing to do. Everyone was wearing masks and
PPEs (personal protective equipment). I was the only one in shorts and I had to sign a waiver because I insisted on staying with my mother at
the ICU,” he narrated. “I couldn’t do much so I did push-ups. After only three push-ups, my hands were shaking. But I forced myself to continue, and you know what? Tod.
“I’ve also been running every week and I spend one hour in the gym
every day,” he added. “Health and wellness are all about attitude and it should be a priority for everyone regardless of age,” he said.
Calixto-Rubiano echoed the importance of having the right mentality towards health and wellness. She also talked about the various health and wellness programs of the Pasay City government, including the empowering mothers and infants or EMI project. “We are aligned with the First 1,000 Days program, a public health initiative that aims to provide comprehensive health and nutrition support during the first
1000 days of a child’s life,” she said.
In addition, the city implements feeding programs, conducts free medical tests, and extends support for COVID-19 patients.