Pinoy military veterans extended TB aid

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. and US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton launched a joint health initiative recently to expand tuberculosis screening, prevention and treatment for Filipino military veterans.

The initiative, named the Veterans Enhanced Screening, Testing and Treatment for Tuberculosis (VESTT-TB) Project, was unveiled during a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

The US government provided $183,000 to the medical center through the US Embassy in Manila to fund diagnostic technology, clinical care and preventive services.

Ambassador Lipton noted that tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge in the Philippines, adding that the project combines specialized medical expertise, institution building and American technology to deliver concrete medical results.

Teodoro expressed appreciation for the funding and stressed the value of practical, data-driven partnerships between the two allied nations.

To maximize the project’s impact, Teodoro directed the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, medical teams from the veterans hospital and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps to expand field-based screening operations.

He also urged personnel to reach military retirees and veterans living in remote communities nationwide rather than relying solely on hospital visits.

The DND chief also reiterated instructions to operationalize VALOR Clinics as soon as possible and encouraged qualified medical professionals within the military reserve force to volunteer their technical expertise.

The project forms part of broader plans to modernize the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, expand its outpatient services and improve disaster response capabilities for large-scale emergencies.