Moncada, Mayor Estelita Aquino has committed to take the lead in ending Tuberculosis (TB) in her locality.
The pledge was made during the Usapang Dibdiban session organized by United States Agency for International Development’s TB Platforms Project (USAID’s TB Platforms).
“It is important for us to identify those with TB in Moncada so that our Rural Health Units can focus in providing them with free medicines,” Aquino emphasized.
Attendees in the activity include members of the Committee on Health of the Sangguniang Bayan, department heads of the municipal government and representatives from Provincial Health Office and Provincial Department of Health Office.
“Local chief executives play an important role in making TB a priority. They are the ones who approve the annual budget for health programs. Through USAID’s TB Platforms’ Usapang Dibdiban sessions, we make a case for TB in front of the mayors and governors,” USAID’s TB Platforms Sustainable Finance Specialist Dr. David Lozada Jr. said.
“With supported data on TB situationer, milestones and challenges, local chief executives will be able to understand the urgency of allocating funds for the procurement of TB drugs and hiring of additional healthcare workers especially now that COVID-19 and TB response needs integration,” he added.
Lozada was joined in the activity by USAID’s TB Platforms Healtht Governance Specialist
Lilian de Leon, Health Systems Strengthening-Sustainable Financing Coordinator for Region 3 Mark Darren Cacanindin and Provincial Project Coordinator for Tarlac and Pampanga Maryvie Lopez.
Municipal and city governments in the province of Tarlac allotted about P23.67 million for TB response this 2021 with P10.718 committed by the mayors during the Usapang Dibdiban sessions with USAID’s TB Platforms. (CLJD-PIA 3)