Sara Duterte hoping for more collaboration on public health, welfare

The fight against COVID-19 is still ongoing and Filipinos need to be reminded about wearing masks and getting their booster shots, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday.

In her speech at the graduation of resident physicians of the Davao Regional Medical Center, also said she hoped for more collaboration on public health and welfare.

“We still have the ongoing battle against COVID-19. As we speak, the number of cases in the entire country has gone up, although cases in Region XI, and in Davao de Oro in particular, are not alarming,” Sara said.

“Time and time again, we need to remind our kababayan to observe the proper wearing of masks, and get their booster shots,” she added.

Sara said that in the fight against the coronavirus, “we also had to vigorously prevent the torrent of misinformation and disinformation.”

“In Davao City, the voice of our health professionals effectively took down the flood of fake news that polluted the minds of our people,” Sara said.

Sara said the partnership with health experts from the Department of Health and experts from local private health institutions “wielded power against the virus.”

“We hope to see collaborations with you on matters concerning public health and welfare in the future,” Sara said.

Sara said the Office of the Vice President, and the Department of Education (DepEd) have launched programs to combat malnutrition among schoolchildren.

“Stunting and the health of pregnant and lactating mothers require a whole-of-government approach, and not just the government, including our private sectors for our health professionals and local government units,” Sara said.

She also mentioned the steady rise of infectious diseases such as cholera, and HIV/AIDS.

“We need to provide the proper education that will not only help Filipinos deepen their understanding of the issue but also enable them to get involved in the advocacy for the elimination of HIV infection,” Sara said.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) in September 2022 indicates that Region XI comprises 6% of the total populace with newly diagnosed cases of HIV, as pregnant women with HIV in the Davao region make up 3% of the total number.

“In all these, I enjoin you in our crucial task of preserving public health in our region as these threats place several socio-economic consequences that put more women, children, and youth at greater risk,” she added.

The Vice President also congratulated Davao Regional Medical Center and Resident Physician Association on the successful bout of residency of this year’s graduating batch.

“This milestone is a testament to your unwavering commitment to providing quality and reliable healthcare while remaining true to the call of service amid the present challenges faced by the health sector.”

Sara Duterte hoping for more collaboration on public health, welfare
Source: Filipino Viral News PH