PH DOH, China, UNDP Collaborate to Improve Healthcare Waste Management in the Country

Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, His Excellency Minister Counselor Yang Guoliang, His Excellency Edwine Carrie, Pasig City Vice Mayor Robert Vincent Jaworski, together with officials from the DOH, DENR, and UNDP, today led the official turnover to the Philippines of the United Nations Development Programme’s project titled “Learning Experience to Improve the Ability of Respomse to COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific”.

Funded by the South-South Cooperation Fund, the project is focused on improving the Philippine response to COVID-19 in the areas of medical waste management. The project will facilitate provision of technical support and training of healthcare professionals on healthcare management. Several equipment, which will be distributed to hospitals and facilities, have been donated to the Philippine government.

The project upholds the goals of Universal Health Care in the context of an evolving pandemic response, recognizing that effective medical waste management is an essential public health service, and ensuring that investments in resilient health systems involves the need to invest in underlying systems that support a strong healthcare workforce and waste infrastructure.

“As we continue to progress towards a post-COVID society, the importance placed on healthcare waste management must be maintained. Hence, it is in our best interest to scale up the establishment of a healthcare waste management process and continue building up on the progress this project has achieved.

Once again, I extend our sincerest commendations to UNDP and the Government of China for mobilizing assistance in strengthening our response to the most challenging public health event of the century. Your support during this unprecedented time truly reflects the spirit “bayanihan” – a fundamental aspect of Filipino culture that means working together and ensuring community efficacy towards a common goal. We hope that by continuing to forge our partnerships, the work towards a Healthy Pilipinas progresses as well.” said OIC Vergeire.

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