In a concerted effort to combat the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, the Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is gearing up for a high-level meeting slated for March 14 to 15.
The DOH said the gathering aims to strategize and mobilize resources to accelerate progress toward ending TB, with a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
The event will kick off with a press conference at 11:15 a.m. on March 14 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Roxas Blvd, Pasay.
It will be followed by tours of selected health facilities and hospitals, including the Karuhatan Health Center in Valenzuela City, on March 14 at 2 p.m. and a visit to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, on March 15.
The meeting will be attended by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Dr. Lucica Ditiu, and high-ranking health officials from Indonesia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and Cambodia.
The DOH emphasized that their presence underscores the global commitment to addressing the TB crisis.
Moreover, the recent adoption of the Political Declaration on TB in 2023 at the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) signifies a pivotal moment in the fight against TB.
The declaration's ambitious targets align with Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, which aims to end the TB epidemic by 2030.
The Health Department said that achieving these targets requires concerted efforts at the national and global levels, including political commitment, adequate resource allocation, and monitoring of progress.
Collaboration among governments, civil society, the TB-affected community, and other stakeholders is essential, it highlighted.
To facilitate dialogue and action, the Stop TB Partnership, in partnership with the DOH Philippines, is hosting this regional meeting in Manila.
The gathering provides a platform for sharing best practices, fostering peer learning, and strengthening south-to-south collaborations.
The DOH stressed that by mobilizing resources, fostering collaboration, and prioritizing innovation, stakeholders aim to accelerate progress toward a TB-free world.