Daily Tribune‘Indeed, we have come a long way in our fight against the pandemic. We can now afford to have less strict minimum health protocols, largely because of our solid vaccination efforts that began under the previous Duterte administration.
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Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go renewed his call for further strengthening the country's healthcare system in order to attain full pandemic recovery and at the same time, be more prepared for any health crisis in the future.
"One's state of health may directly and immediately affect one's earning capacity. Especially for many of our average Filipinos who could only take home a fair day's wage for a fair day's work, getting sick has particularly dire implications," Go said.
The senator expressed his appreciation for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s recent directive to refocus the Department of Health's attention toward other public health concerns.
"We must continue prioritizing general public health to promote the overall well-being of the Filipino people. Our plans should include intensifying our fight against tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infections, among others commonly afflicting the Filipinos, which have serious consequences for the affected individuals and the population at large," said Go.
On top of this, the senator continues to urge the government to remain vigilant in its fight against Covid-19.
"Indeed, we have come a long way in our fight against the pandemic. We can now afford to have less strict minimum health protocols, largely because of our solid vaccination efforts that began under the previous Duterte Administration," Go added.
He also mentioned that starting next year, Covid-19 management will be integrated into other public health programs and will not be a special program anymore, according to the health department.
Survivors' Day
Meanwhile, Go and former president Rodrigo Duterte attended the Survivors' Day celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City last Thursday, 8 December to honor the bravery and strength of all cancer patients and survivors.
The event was organized by the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer.
Go praised Filipino cancer patients' resiliency and urged them not to give up hope as the government works to improve support services.
Children with cancer, survivors, and their families look forward to the House of Hope Foundation's Survivors' Day every year on 8 December as it is a chance for them to have fun and win prizes at games and get their hands on essentials for a traditional Christmas celebration: Gifts and food.
