THE Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) and the Department of Health (DOH) signed an agreement Monday to jointly pursue an advocacy campaign promoting public health issues among PACU’s 160-member colleges and universities nationwide.

PACU president Gonzalo Duque, brother of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, told The PUNCH that their group could prove to be a major partner for the DOH’s information dissemination efforts given its coverage of about three million students nationwide.

“PACU will be used as catalyst for reaching out and informing the public on health matters,” Duque said.

Duque, president of Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City, said the memorandum of agreement covers the promotion of health issues like “no smoking”, “Iwas Paputok”, breastfeeding, responsible parenthood and dengue prevention.

The DOH will provide the schools materials on health concerns.

Duque added that they will also study the possibility of integrating these public health issues in their curricula.

He added that if this project proves successful, they will encourage other groups like the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations to adopt it. #