PLAY - Protection, Love, and Activities for Young Kids

Protection, Love, and Activities for Young Kids or P.L.A.Y. is a disease awareness raising campaign launched last February 23, 2013 at The Fun Ranch, Ortigas by Mommy Mundo, the country’s most extensive portal of mom and family-focused resources. For many years, Mommy Mundo has actively promoted an advocacy on vaccination as the best defense against diseases. P.L.A.Y is about Protection, Love, and Activites for Young children towards a healthy and happy life.

The moms and kids of P.L.A.Y. were treated to an afternoon of learning through activities that tickled their imagination and competitiveness. The afternoon began by sending off participants on an adventure hunt around Fun Ranch using clues related to PD. A doctor also gave a talk to answer all of the parents’ concerns about PD. And then, the social media mavens’ knowledge of PD were put to the test during the Puzzle Game and Guess the Word challenges, while their children had free reign of the play area.

Julia and I won the Treasure Hunt game

 Each year, roughly a million children die from Pneumococcal Diseases or PDs – and 48% of Asian parents admit that they know nothing or little about these diseases. Since the disease is considered as the #1 killer of children less than 5 years of age worldwide, it’s no surprise that this silent pandemic, while preventable, is still quietly spreading its wrath.

Pneumococcal diseases include invasive ones also known as IPD such as meningitis, sepsis, bacteremia, and pneumonia, and other common diseases such as acute otitis media (middle ear infection).

Acute Otitis Media (AOM), more commonly known as an infection of the middle ear, causes twenty million doctor visits annually. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) it is the most common reason for antibiotic treatment in infants and young children. A fever, headache, cough, irritability, and pain in the ears are common symptoms of this disease. AOM is also highly preventable through vaccination.

The afternoon ended, with a pledge to P.L.A.Y, a promise of all the participants to protect their health and keep on learning and with a full head of knowledge. For more information, visit www.mommymundo.com/vaccinate.