PHL Removed from WHO’s Top Ten List of Countries with TB Burden

Manila (PNA) — The Department of Health (DOH) is no longer listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) Top Ten List of Countries with Tuberculosis Burden.

“As early as 2012 we already attained our MDG by halting the prevalence of TB (tuberculosis). We have now fallen to number 15 in WHO’s TB watch list,” said DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin in her State of Health Address during the recently held National Summit on Health at Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

Garin recalled that in 2010, only seven out of 10 tuberculosis cases were usually diagnosed and initiated for treatment.

With that situation, she said that the country was then included in the WHO’s Watch List for Tuberculosis, wherein the Philippines ranks among the list of those in the Top Ten Countries with burden for TB globally.

Garin said that at that time, the country ranked at number 7 slot.

She said that such ranking was something that should not be a legacy to the young generation who would carry the burden of impressions that the country could not afford to fight it.

“Hindi po ba nakakahiya na ipamana ang TB sa ating mga kabataan? Hindi po ba nakakahiya na kapag meron tayong bisita galing sa ibang ibang bansa unang una nilang iisipin, naku baka mahawa ng TB ang aming mga bata?,” she asked.

She added that with the investment of the government, under the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III, who set forth directions to eliminate TB, and with the strong partnerships from donor countries and donor communities comprising of civil society organizations and business sectors, a national tuberculosis program was created and allowed for improvements to happen.

“As early as 2012 we already attained our MDG by halting the prevalence of TB. We have now fallen to “number 15” in WHO’s TB Watch list…Pasalamatan po natin, program directors, regional directors, the mayors, the barangay captains, governors and all those involve including civil society organizations and the business sector they had been silently helping us to accomplish this,” she added.

As she recognized the partners role and contribution in bringing the country reputation down from the list, she said that fostering partnership was the key ingredient plus the commitment and dedication.

“It is very difficult to eradicate tuberculosis… Bringing us down from this watch list is a decade success,” the DOH chief added. (PNA) RMA/LSJ/EDS