DOH drops ‘SEX’ for health slogan

Filipino call center personnel are pictured at a newly opened business process outsourcing office in Manila in this file photo. a recent report of the World Bank’s Human Development Network said the strong performance of the Philippine economy in the first quarter of 2012 has lowered the rate of unemployment in the country. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health said Tuesday it had dropped a cheeky slogan that recommended “SEX” for call center workers after the industry failed to find it funny.

The SEX tagline, which stood for “Stress-free, Eat the right foods and Exercise,” was supposed to encourage the country’s army of call center workers to lead healthier lifestyles, said Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag.

“We thought it would be funny. They used (the acronym) SEX to make it a simple message,” he said.

However representatives of the call centers objected, saying their sector was already being stigmatised by reports that HIV infections were higher among their workers, Tayag told AFP.

He said he also did not expect newspaper headlines such as “Call Center Agents need to have more SEX: Department of Health.”

The department is still continuing the campaign but with the tamer slogan of “Live Well, Work Well,” Tayag said.