WHO official calls on health sector to intensify campaign against TB
World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Takeshi Kasai challenged the health sector during the recent 7th Conference of the Union Asia Pacific Region (APRC) to mobilize all their healthcare providers and step up their efforts against active tuberculosis by coming up with a coordinated, planned, and carefully monitored campaign that can save thousands of lives and can be the benchmark for a new way of doing business in the health system.
“Let us be clear about (the) challenges we are facing, one in 100 people in this country with active tuberculosis is (an) emergency, and I think we have to act as it is. We have to mobilize the health sector in such a way that it is well-coordinated, planned, and carefully monitored and (in a) sustained way. It will not be easy but if we get it right, thousands of lives can be saved, and this new normal can be a trailblazer for a new way of doing business in the health system,” said Dr. Kasai.
Dr. Takeshi Kasai is the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. Photo grabbed from WHO International.
The Philippine Business for Social Progress, through its Advancing Client-Centered Care and Expanding Sustainable Services (ACCESS TB) Project, joined over 1,500 researchers, specialists, professionals, policy- makers, and academicians from the Asia Pacific region in the APRC conference held from April 23-26, 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Manila.
The conference themed “Unity in Diversity: One Against Tuberculosis and Other Lung Diseases,” discussed the challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and other lung diseases.
“For the second time in the past two decades, the Philippines has been given the task of organizing the regional conference that brings together scientists, health care professionals, program managers, community workers, and funders who take part in how things are in the realm of lung health; to determine what more needs to be done, and how to implement the solutions. The idea is to find health solutions for the poor, the mission of the International Union Against Tuberculosis,” said Prof. Camilo C. Roa, Jr., conference president.