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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider WHO urges PH to support 'pandemic treaty'

WHO urges PH to support 'pandemic treaty'

Published Oct 28, 2022 04:23 pm

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (AFP FILE/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The World Health Organization (WHO) asked the Philippines to support a “treaty,” which is currently being drafted, that is aimed at strengthening responses against future pandemics or other health crises, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to support this “pandemic treaty” during their recent meeting, said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Friday, Oct. 28.

“Sinabi ni Dr. Tedros na napaka-importante suportahan ng Pilipinas ang pandemic treaty (Dr. Tedros said that it is very important for the Philippines to support the pandemic treaty) for which we are supporting naman talaga (we are really supporting),” said Vergeire.

The government gave some recommendations for the drafting of the said treaty, she said. Vergeire did not specify what recommendations were given.

“ pandemic treaty is for this kind of health crisis, hindi lang pandemya pero sa kung ano pang klase ng health crisis na dadating (not just for a pandemic but for any other kind of health crisis that will come),” said Vergeire.

“What is important here that should be highlighted is the collaboration between and among countries,” she added.

Marcos also asked Ghebreyesus for the latter’s “fearless forecast of what will happen in the next months in terms of Covid-19,” said Vergeire.

“Dr. Tedros was able to explain that there are these subvariants, tumataas ang kaso sa iba’t-ibang lugar (cases are increasing in different places) globally but it’s totally different right now because two years ago, when we started with the pandemic, we didn’t have any tools at all para labanan ang pandemya o ang (to fight the pandemic or the) virus,” said Vergeire.

“Pero ngayon, kahit tumataas ang kaso (But now, even though the cases are increasing), we have our antivirals, we have our vaccines, people have learned already towards practicing the minimum public health standards. So, Dr. Tedros told President Bongbong Marcos that looking forward na lahat ng bansa at ang kailangan lang naman talaga, mapreserve natin ang ating healthcare system (that all countries are looking forward–and all that is really needed is to preserve our healthcare system),” she added.

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Department of Health (DOH) Maria Rosario Vergeire Philippines world health organization
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