November 16, 2017

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III announced today that the DOH has strengthened its resolve to abide with its commitments to the ASEAN after the successful hosting and chairmanship of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings held from November 13-15, 2017 in Manila.

Leaders of the ASEAN Member States (AMS) yesterday concluded the meeting where two important health-related declarations were adopted which include the ASEAN declarations on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance and the ASEAN Declaration on Ending all forms of Malnutrition.The former is targeted at tackling the pressing issue on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using the “One Health” approach to ensure a holistic, multi-sectoral, and multi-disciplinary approach in dealing with AMR at the regional and country levels. The latter recognizes the importance of addressing malnutrition as a measure of development which plays an essential part in attaining of Sustainable Development Goals.

“The DOH is one with the ASEAN community in bringing peace, stability and prosperity through improving the health and quality of life of all the peoples of the ASEAN.  We are ready to collaborate with other ASEAN member states in matters of health especially strategic initiatives that will protect us from emerging regional health threats and attain Universal Health Care for our citizens,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III stated.

Meanwhile, the DOH quickly responded to the incident which happened during the ASEAN Music Festival last November 15where the crowd turned rowdy resulting in the injury and fainting of some concert-goers and causing the eventual cancellation of the show. The DOH immediately deployed nine (9) medical teams onsite and treated a total of 8 minor injuries (abrasions and contusions), 45 cases of hyperventilation, vertigo, muscle pain, hypertension, and hypoglycemia. No case required hospital admission.