Palace: Marcos wants renewed focus on general public health as diseases increase

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called for a renewed focus on general public health concerns amid the increase in the number of diseases apart from COVID-19 in the country.

According to the Office of the Press Secretary, Marcos made the call during his meeting with World Health Organization director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who gave him a courtesy call.

“During their meeting, Marcos emphasized the necessity of finding a balance between the economy and people’s safety during the meeting, citing the effectiveness of the government’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign,” the OPS said.

“The President also called for a renewed focus on general public health concerns as cases of other diseases increase,” it added.

The President issued the remark following the rising cases of diseases in the country such as cholera, measles, rubella, leptospirosis, and dengue.

Based on the data of the Department of Health (DOH), a total of 3,729 cholera cases have been recorded in the country since January 2022, which is 282% higher compared to the data during the same period last year.

The DOH said a total of 450 measles and rubella cases were recorded from January 1 to September 17, 2022, which is 153% higher than those recorded during the same period last year, in which there were only 178 cases reported.

For leptospirosis, the Health department said 1,770 cases were recorded from January 1 to August 27 of this year, which is 36% higher compared to the reported cases in the same period last year with 1,299 cases recorded.

Meanwhile, a total of 118,785 dengue cases have been recorded from January 1 to August 13, 2022, which is 143% higher than those recorded during the same period last year.

Aside from meeting Tedros, Marcos also met former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair at a separate courtesy call in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Tedros is in the Philippines to participate in the 73rd World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Committee Meeting (WPRCM) in Manila from October 24 to 28.

With Tedros in the meeting with Marcos were WHO Chef de Cabinet Dr. Catharina Boehme and Director of Programme Management Dr. Corinne Capuano of WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.

Marcos was joined by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. Lagdameo and Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.