Written by the Web Team

 

Promoting brown rice, an advocacy of the National Year of Rice (NYR 2013), kicked off this year’s Diabetes Awareness Week Campaign in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

The Diabetes Awareness Week is an annual campaign started in 1993 through the Presidential Proclamation 213 issued by former President Fidel Ramos.

In Nueva Ecija, the activity is led by the Nueva Ecija Medical Society (NEMS), a component society of the Philippine Medical Association, and is the professional membership organization for physicians who reside in Nueva Ecija.

As partners, the NYR 2013 Team distributed brown rice, brown rice recipes, and NYR collaterals to the recipients of the campaign celebration.

Based on studies, frequent consumption of brown rice may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease and stroke. Cancer and diabetes may also be diminished by eating brown rice.

Hazel Antonio, NYR campaign director, said that the holding of Diabetes Awareness Week and the partnership of PhilRice with NEMS are significant steps to help promote responsible rice consumption, including increasing Filipino’s uptake of brown rice.

She added that besides helping reduce diabetes, increased brown rice consumption benefits the country’s rice industry because of its higher milling recovery.

On promoting brown rice, Dr. Edgar Mendoza, president of NEMS, said that the partnership between NEMS and PhilRice is one of the organization’s largest pro-patient moves that will enhance the awareness of the masses on prevention of major diseases.

“The promotion of brown rice during the event in line with NYR 2013 is a good avenue for wise food choices not only for diabetic patients but also for the common masses,” he further said.

Rallying different themes every year, Diabetes Awareness Week aims to promote awareness of the disease through early detection and educational programs. This year’s campaign theme is I-Zumba Mo Diabetes Mo.

Free blood sugar screening, zumba dancing sessions, and nutritional screening were conducted.

The partnership between PhilRice and NEMS was sealed in June.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute