by: Bernadine Astillero Gabawan
Bayog,
Zamboanga del Sur, May 11 (PIA) – The United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) Health Promotion & Communication Project (HealthPRO) in
collaboration with local government unit of Bayog conducted a community theater play entitled
“Ikaw at Ako ay Tayo” (You and Me Make Us) at the municipal gymnasium on May
10, 2012.
HealthPRO
proposes to use people’s theater as an integral component of the
Department of Health’s outreach activities in the countryside promoting healthy spacing of pregnancies using
temporary methods of family planning & the use of long-acting permanent
methods for those who have completed their desired family size, uniquely
integrated with other key maternal and child health messages (such as prenatal
care, facility-based delivery, immunization, exclusive breastfeeding, hand
washing, vitamin A supplementation, deworming and etc.
This
HealthPRO play targets 28,000 people thru 140 community play performances over
a 3-month period from April to June 2012 which aims to engage local communities
in a livelier discussion of family planning and family health, & serve as a
catalyst for behavior change or adoption. It is a spurred participatory theater
where the audiences are asked to become “spect-actors”. They become a part of
the play and suggest ways to resolve the conflict and are given the opportunity
to act out the suggestions.
In
behalf of Mayor Leonardo Babasa, Jr.,
Sangguniang Bayan Member Celso Matias, delivered a message to the participants. He
said, ”health is wealth,” that is why our government, focuses on the health of its people.” “This LGU hopes that through this play, you
will learn something while enjoying being part of the play.”Matias further
said.
Moreover,
this activity was facilitated by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) under Dr. Gretchen
Dubrico and Radzini Oleda, Regional Communication Specialist, HealthPRO with
Mon Blanco, Artist Director-ZamboSur Arts Center. Attended by some 400 folks
from barangays Poblacion and Kahayagan.(BAG-MIO Bayog/CAL/PIA9)
