PH should strengthen public health system – WHO

THE World Health Organization ( WHO) urged the Philippine government to strengthen its public health system and continue its surveillance system to detect the coronavirus cases and identify where infections are happening.

Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific Region, said that the Philippines’ decision to lock down Luzon saved many lives.

“I really want to commend the people of the Philippines who have been doing their part to comply with this lockdown, but I am aware of how hard It has been and people need to go back to work,” Kasai said in a forum.

He said the country would see an increase in the number of cases especially in hospitals as the government eases quarantine restrictions.

Kasai said the tactics used by countries in the Western Pacific Region in curbing the spread of Covid- 19, such as testing, aggressive contact tracing and early treatment, have kept large scale infections at bay. But these must be strengthened and must be expanded further.

“We need to make sure that systems are prepared to protect those who are most vulnerable. We also need to bring other routine health services back such as vaccination,” the WHO official said.

He added that the new normal “is not about prioritizing health or livelihood, it is about improving both.”

Meanwhile, Woochung Um, director general for sustainable development and climate change of the Asian Development Bank, said the pandemic would cost the global economy $ 5.8 trillion, or 6.4 percent of global gross domestic product, or GDP.

He added that at least 167 million people across Asia would lose their jobs, and the sectors to be hit hard would include retail recreation, hospitality, transportation and aviation sectors.

Um said that opening economies partially after lockdown should be based on science and knowledge of the pandemic.