The loud shouts from the kids who joined the Kung Flu Fighter campaign and the equally loud playing of the “Kung Fu Fighting” theme song by Carl Douglas and the new, locally produced “Flu WATCH Soundtrack” filled the hot, noonday air as the team paraded in front of the hundreds of spectators who gathered on Beach Road in Garapan for the 2010 Liberation Day parade on July 4.
It was the launching of the CNMI-wide flu watch campaign, and each parade participant tried their best in sending the message to the community to campaign against the flu.
Every time the kids shouted “Achoo!” they covered their mouths with their hands or with their sleeves and the crowd replied “WATCH IT” from the roadsides, simultaneous with the spray of water from the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting truck to simulate a sneeze.
Adding color to the campaign were the different mascots representing Kung Flu, hand sanitizer, soap, vaccine vial, nurse with syringe and face mask which made the team one of the main attractions in the parade.
The campaign highlighted the “T” in WATCH which means “Teach others how to prevent the flu, by being a Kung Flu Fighter.”
Roxanne Diaz, health analyst of the Department of Public Health secretary’s office, said the letter “T” on the t-shirts they wore was magnified to stress its meaning — “TEACH.” It is also significant as it models the Trench Tech logo. Trench Tech is one of the main organizations t Public Health is working with to promote the campaign against flu this year.
The campaign, which was dubbed “Celebrating KUNG FLU FIGHTERS, Our Leaders of Tomorrow” successfully sent the message to the community as part of the flu prevention initiative of the Flu Watch Committee through the Public Health & Hospital Emergency Preparedness Program.
The Kung Flu Fighter campaign comprised of six marching units including Public Health staff and family members, the Matua Riders with their family members, Garapan Elementary School students and teachers, Trench Tech Fighters and their family members, ARFF staff, Sparky the Mascot and Chiliboy Entertainment (Sound System and Videography).
To strengthen the campaign, the team also gave away various items such as Flu Watch caps, hand sanitizers, bandanas, fliers and stickers to the public.
The parade is gone, Liberation Day is over but the campaign of the Kung Flu fighters is here to stay. So watch it!
