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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian pushes for creation of PH center for disease control amid Baguio gastroenteritis outbreak

Gatchalian pushes for creation of PH center for disease control amid Baguio gastroenteritis outbreak

Published Jan 13, 2024 09:28 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has underscored the need for the creation of a Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control following the declaration of a gastroenteritis outbreak in Baguio City.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has underscored the need for the creation of a Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control following the declaration of a gastroenteritis outbreak in Baguio City.

Gatchalian is a co-author of the proposed Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act (Senate Bill No. 1869), which seeks to create the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The proposed center shall be the technical authority on forecasting, analysis, strategy, and standards development for the prevention and control of all diseases of public health importance and health security events.

Aside from developing strategies, standards, and policies for disease prevention and control, the center’s other responsibilities shall include the implementation of disease surveillance and field epidemiology activities, the establishment and strengthening of public health laboratories, and the building of local capacity for surveillance and health research.

The bill also directs provinces, cities, and municipalities to adopt and localize standards that the proposed CDC shall develop. To build local capacity for disease surveillance, local government units (LGUs) are mandated to fund and establish functional epidemiology and surveillance units and create positions for needed disease surveillance officers and field epidemiologists.

As of Friday, Jan. 12, Baguio City recorded 2,764 cases of gastroenteritis, or the inflammation of the digestive system. Initial results of water testing showed evidence of fecal contamination in the city.

“Nakita natin noong panahon ng pandemya ng Covid-19 at sa naging outbreak sa Baguio City kung gaano kahalaga ang isang matatag na sistemang pangkalusugan sa pagsugpo ng anumang uri ng sakit. Kaya naman patuloy nating isinusulong ang paglikha ng Center for Disease Prevention and Control upang matiyak na may sapat na kakayahan ang ating bansa na sugpuin ang pagkalat ng mga sakit (We saw during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the outbreak in Baguio City how important it is to have a reliable health system to deter any disease. That's why we're continuously pushing for the creation of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control to ensure the country's capability in addressing in curbing the spread of diseases),” said Gatchalian.

The senator also filed the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) Act of 2022 (Senate Bill No. 825).

The proposed VIP shall serve as the premier research and development institute in the field of virology, and encompassed all areas of viruses and viral diseases in plants, animals, and humans.

Related Tags

Baguio City Center for Disease Control Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian gastroenteritis Virology Institute of the Philippines (VIP)
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