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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM, WHO chief discuss COVID, other vital health concerns

PBBM, WHO chief discuss COVID, other vital health concerns

Published Oct 26, 2022 01:45 pm

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has paid a courtesy visit to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to discuss the health sector’s concerns in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visits President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (Photo from the Office of the Press Secretary)

Marcos received Ghebreyesus at the Study Room in Malacañang on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Ghebreyesus is in the Philippines to participate in the 73rd World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Committee Meeting (WPRCM) being held in Manila from Oct. 24-28.

During their meeting, Marcos said the primary health care is still on top of the government's agenda in fighting the health crisis while sustaining the delivery of essential services.

“We need to do that, especially now that we have learned many lessons from this pandemic," Marcos, who cited the country's progress in managing the pandemic, said.

"It is the time to start. Even in the psychology of our people, they think that we are now managing Covid very well," he added.

The Chief Executive also made a call for renewed efforts to focus on general public health concerns apart from Covid-19 following the increasing cases of other diseases.

(OPS photo via Facebook)

" bring back to other issues that were neglected during the height of the pandemic. There's so much to do. We have to take care of our people," Marcos stressed.

While the global Covid-19 situation has improved since the pandemic started, Ghebreyesus noted the continued risks and uncertainties brought by the virus mutation.

He said adequate testing and preparedness are crucial to battling the infectious disease even with the emergence of more variants of the virus.

"I don't think we will need different tools than we have now. It's a matter of immediately detecting and using tools to stop it," said Ghebreyesus.

"If we continue to be vigilant, we can solve it. So what I expect is for the future, maybe in the next few months or more, I think we will move forward," he pointed out.

Marcos had previously said the country will stop treating the Covid-19 pandemic “as an emergency” but will not lift the state of calamity just yet.

WHO Chef de Cabinet Dr. Catharina Boehme and Director of Programme Management Dr. Corinne Capuano of WHO Western Pacific Regional Office accompanied Ghebreyesus during his meeting with Marcos.

With Marcos at the meeting were Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. and Department of Health (DOH) Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

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