New local TV program promotes health and wellness
CALEXICO — A new local television program featuring Imperial Valley residents speaking about health and wellness will be airing on the station Canal 66 Monday morning.
The pilot episode was shot on Thursday, and will air at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
The segment will air from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays until the end of October. The program may get picked up by the station to continue being aired.
Valley residents, as well as some Mexicali residents, who have an expertise in health or wellness will be featured on the program.
The programming was created by a Calexico-based non-profit health program as a way to better reach its clients.
After the COVID-19 pandemic began, ProActive Health Inc. began surveying its clients in order to better understand how the organization could best serve them.
Founded in 2018, ProActive operates out of Flx Fitness, 2451 Rockwood Ave. Funded by Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District, ProActive teaches clients how to control their weight and lower their risk for diabetes.
Participants in ProActive must be Calexico residents, 18 years or older and have diabetes, pre-diabetes or a body mass index higher than 28.
After surveying its clients, ProActive discovered that a lot of them are older adults who usually have only one computer at home.
“With virtual learning right now, it (the computer) is taken by their children,” Jose Luis Ramirez, president of ProActive, said. “So we realized they all get their information from television.”
And a lot of them said, ‘It would be great if we could go back to the days where we had “Body by Jake” and all those programs.’ And that’s what we’re doing here.”
In addition to information regarding health and wellness, the show will also feature a physical activity bit where certified trainers teach viewers exercises that can be done at home.
Tricks of the trade regarding nutrition and diet will also be shared.
“So you kind of get a little bit of knowledge, exercise and a little bit more knowledge,” Ramirez said.
The certified trainers and certified nutritionists who appear on the program will hail mostly from the Valley, he said.
The segment is sponsored by ProActive and the Calexico Rotary Club.
The three guests on the pilot episode are Hortencia Armendariz, Calexico Rotary Club president; Tomás Oliva, senior field representative for Congressman Juan Vargas, and Gloria Romo, HMHD board member.
Armendariz, Oliva and Romo were all present Thursday evening at the television station’s headquarters located across from McDonald’s on Imperial Avenue in Calexico.
“We’re bringing in people from the community that can provide resources or information regarding health, regarding wellness to everyone,” Ramirez said.
Canal 66 can be viewed for free without a cable provider.
“All you need is your antenna,” Ramirez said. “And it goes straight to your television.”
Ramirez said Canal 66 has viewership in Imperial Valley, Mexicali, Yuma and part of San Diego County.