An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Aug. 25, 2022

U.S. Supports Quezon City in Flight Against Tuberculosis and Covid-19

MANILA, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines -- In celebration of National Lung Month, the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting the Quezon City local government to strengthen tuberculosis (TB) detection efforts by integrating free TB screening at select COVID-19 booster vaccination sites in the city.

USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks joined House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Department of Health (DOH) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, and Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto in launching integrated TB screening and booster vaccination activities at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on August 22.

“The U.S. government continues to demonstrate its commitment to help the Philippines achieve its development goals, and more importantly, survive this pandemic that has hampered economic activities and continues to affect the health of Filipino families,” said Acting Mission Director Eubanks. “Together, we are forging stronger public-private partnerships to bolster health response efforts for both TB and COVID-19.”

House Speaker Martin Romualdez thanked USAID for its partnership and reiterated Congress’s support of TB and COVID-19 prevention efforts. “Our role in Congress will be to engage our peers to allocate funds for sustainable TB detection, care, treatment and prevention,” said Speaker Romualdez. “We will include the integration of TB and COVID-19 efforts in our agenda.”

To support the Philippine government’s TB and COVID-19 prevention efforts, USAID is training healthcare workers on TB and COVID-19 infection prevention and control and offering workshops on community TB screening and contact tracing. USAID is also offering free chest x-rays, referring TB presumptive individuals for treatment, and working with the Quezon City Health Office to disseminate information about TB prevention and control.

“Through this program, TB screening will be more accessible to high-risk communities. We will be able to reach out to a greater number of individuals and provide them access to treatment,” said Vice Mayor Gian Sotto. “Here in Quezon City, we will work hard to strengthen our TB response.”

Sotto also underscored the importance of the joint efforts of the Philippine government and private partners to end TB amid COVID-19. “We are very appreciative as well of the additional resources from USAID and URC and their partner, Advance Abilities. Through their assistance, our work here in Quezon City will not be as difficult.”

Since the pandemic began, the U.S. government has invested more than Php 2.8 billion ($50 million) in the Philippines’ COVID-19 response. USAID has also equipped the Department of Health and local government partners with Php 130 million pesos ($2.3 million) worth of innovative tools for TB detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

For more than 60 years, USAID has worked with the Philippine government and local organizations to achieve shared development goals, investing more than Php 247.5 billion ($5.1 billion) to support the Philippines since 1961.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,083
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...

U.S., India launch Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024
Courtesy Photo
March 21, 2024 - Indian and U.S. combined armed forces began Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024 with the arrival of amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), March 18 and an opening ceremony March 19.This is the third time U.S. and...

USACE: Ensuring Safety Every Step of the Way
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work in Japan for all military services and agencies. With over 60 years of experience in designing and constructing facilities in Japan, JED possesses the experience in Japanese standards and specifications, regulations, construction practices, maintenance requirements, and culture needed to ensure facilities are built with the utmost safety and professionalism. Photo by Charles Maib.
March 21, 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work...

THAAD Battery in Guam Successfully Completes Table VIII Evaluation
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launcher used by E-3 Air Defense Artillery THAAD Battery as part of their Table VIII certification in Dededo, Guam, March 13, 2024. The THAAD battery, equipped with a state-of-the-art missile defense system, is tasked with defending Guam against ballistic missile threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)
March 21, 2024 - In a testament to readiness and operational excellence, Task Force Talon's E-3 ADA THAAD Battery conducted a Table VIII evaluation for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam, March 11-15,...