The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, Nov. 7, welcomed a delegation of officials from Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, and Cooperatives in pursuit of international collaboration.
DOH, in a statement, said the purpose of the visit was to learn from the Philippines' best practices in the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Program.
"Stopping the start is more effective than starting the stop, which means prevention is better than cessation," said Health Promotion Bureau Director Rodley Carza as she emphasized the importance of prevention.
DOH also underscored that the meeting served as a platform for the exchange of knowledge and insights on tobacco control strategies and health policies.
This, DOH noted, is aligned with the Philippines' ongoing efforts to promote a healthier society by focusing on measures that discourage the initiation of smoking, especially among the youth.
The gathering, DOH noted, was marked by engaging discussions that touched on various aspects of health policies, systems, financing, and regulation.
Meanwhile, DOH expressed its commitment to sharing its expertise and experiences with its Bangladeshi counterparts, fostering collaboration between the two nations in the pursuit of improved public health and tobacco control.
Aside from Carza, Officer-in-Charge, Undersecretary, and Chief of Staff, Dr. Gloria J. Balboa also represented the department. (Zekinah Elize Espina)