The Senate committee on health is set to conduct a hearing on Monday to evaluate the government’s preparedness to effectively suppress the spread of monkeypox and COVID-19.
The committee’s chairperson, Sen. Bong Go said he is seeking closer coordination among various government agencies and authorities to ensure that the country is much ready against existing and emerging health threats.
Go also said he will inquire with Department of Health (DOH) officials and health authorities other relevant concerns such as vaccines, disease surveillance, and information dissemination, among others.
Go and Sen. Robin Padilla had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 84 on August 1, directing the Health and Demography Committee to conduct an inquiry on the country’s preparedness to contain and suppress monkeypox, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health emergency of international concern.
The resolution was pushed following the detection of the first case of monkeypox in the country on July 29.
Go also underscored the need to intensify the country’s surveillance systems and further strengthen the healthcare system.
He said he will likewise tackle key updates on the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response, including reports on vaccine wastage.
Meanwhile, Go also wants the Executive Branch to “carefully assess the situation” and “study the need to further extend the state of calamity due to COVID-19” as new cases have been rising in the past days and weeks in many places in the country.
He assured to support initiatives and policies that aim to protect the welfare of the Filipino people.
He has repeatedly called on concerned agencies to come up with strategies and measures to strengthen the capability of the country against future health crises.