Philippine General Hospital (PGH) – PHILOHUN officers and staff met with Ms. Andrea Halverson, the new USAID Philippines Health Office director, through a courtesy visit on October 10, 2023.
The courtesy visit aimed to foster a stronger partnership between USAID Philippines and PHILOHUN as the latter implements the second year of the Global Health Security (GHS) project in the Philippines.
During the meeting, some of the key initiatives discussed were PHILOHUN’s continuing rabies control and elimination efforts, integration of One Health concept and approach to the university programs curricula, organizing of an International One Health Conference in the country, and support to national government agencies to strengthen their capacity and expertise on One Health.
It was also discussed that through strengthened partnership, the One Health approach should be able to reach up to the community level where health systems need to be further improved.
Together with Halverson, also present during the meeting from USAID Philippines were its Dr. Yolanda Oliveros and Project Management Specialist, Dr. Ernesto Bontuyan.
Meanwhile, PHILOHUN was represented by its Chairperson, Dr. Michael Tee, together with its national coordinating office led by Dr. Neil Tanquilut, Country Coordinator, Mr. Lorenzo Miguel Marasigan, Program Manager, Mr. Christian Manalac Jr., Finance and Administrative Officer.
Also present to the meeting was Mr. Jerico del Rosario, Country Liaison for the Philippines of Southeast Asia One Health University Network.