‘Wais PAPAWIS’ launched to help beat Covid-19

FILIPINOS can further strengthen their immune systems through regular exercise and healthy diet while the government continues to improve the nation’s pandemic response mechanisms and the overall healthcare system,

In a recent Beat Covid-19 virtual press conference, Health Undersecretary Dr. maria rosario Vergeire and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) National Training Director marc Velasco discussed ‘Wais Papawis,’ a collaborative project between the Department of Health (DOH) and the PSC to promote a healthy lifestyle despite the limitations of the community quarantine.

“Alam po natin lahat na part of increased resistance sa mga sakit or to improve our immune system is to engage ourselves into physical exercise,” said Velasco.

As part of the Doh’s five-point strategy on Covid-19, Wais Papawis is an educational campaign that demonstrates simple but effective home exercises to increase the public’s physical resilience to illness.

The campaign features famous Filipino athletes like national volleyball player mika reyes showing easy-to-follow exercise videos on the Facebook pages of the DOH, the PSC, and Healthy Pilipinas.

In addition to getting regular exercise, Velasco underscored the importance of maintaining a healthy diet in boosting the immune system, reminding the public to get a healthy balance of vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates.

“We invite you to engage in physical activity. Even in our home, our room, we can do these very basic simple exercises,” said Velasco

He also encouraged the public to “maintain a healthy lifestyle, do exercise, eat healthy food, and have a good rest.”

According to Velasco, the PSC is also working closely with the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to prepare a framework on sports activities during the pandemic following DOH minimum health and safety guidelines.

Vergeire noted that 10 to 15 minutes of exercise and seven to eight hours of sleep daily can go a long way in the fight against the pandemic, because it will improve the body’s resistance to illness and decrease one’s vulnerability.

“Palakasin po natin ang ating resistensya,” said Vergeire.

“If we take the right actions and observe proper precautions, we are giving ourselves a better fighting chance against Covid-19,” Vergeire concluded. Claudeth Mocon-ciriaco