In celebration of Health Awareness Week, the Archdiocese of Manila, through its Human Resource Development Department, conducted a seminar titled ‘Taking Responsibility for Your Health through Prevention, Monitoring, and Proper Medical Care’ on July 15, 2026, at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros.
Dr. Tony Leachon, a healthcare advocate, was the speaker for the half-day seminar.
In an interview with the Archdiocese of Manila Office of Communications, Dr. Leachon, who specializes in internal medicine and cardiology, encouraged the Catholic Church to expand its role in promoting health and wellness by integrating healthcare awareness into its pastoral mission and community programs.
He emphasized that the Church’s influence should extend beyond spiritual guidance. While the Church has always focused on nurturing spiritual health, Dr. Leachon stated that it should also promote physical, emotional, and intellectual wellness among its members.
One of Dr. Leachon’s key recommendations is for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and all local parishes to include health promotion in their ministries. He suggested that the Church should regularly communicate messages that encourage healthy lifestyles and disease prevention through pastoral letters, parish activities, and community outreach initiatives.
Dr. Leachon, who has served as an Independent Director of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) since 2016, also proposed that priests dedicate a few minutes of their homilies to discussing health-related topics. According to him, sermons can occasionally include reminders about maintaining good health, practicing proper nutrition, engaging in regular physical activity, and taking preventive measures against illness.
“The Church already nurtures the spiritual health of the faithful. It can also help encourage physical health, which influences our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well-being,” Leachon said.
In addition to health education, Leachon encouraged parishes to organize community-based activities that promote wellness, such as medical missions, health seminars, wellness fairs, blood donation drives, and other outreach programs. He believes these initiatives can make healthcare information and basic health services more accessible, especially to underserved communities.
As part of Health Awareness Week, the RCAM HRDD also conducted a medical mission for employees and their families on July 18, 2026, in Intramuros, Manila, in collaboration with San Agustin Church and Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
(Photo by Jheng Prado / RCAM Media)
