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MANILA, Philippines — The United States government through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) has turned over to the Philippines $2.6 million, or approximately P131.74 million, worth of new tools for the detection, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis or TB.
This was announced Tuesday by Heather Variava, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, via Twitter.
The U.S. continues to support the Philippine government and partner local government units' efforts to address tuberculosis through the latest @USAID_manila handover of new tools for TB detection, treatment, & prevention valued at $2.6 million. #USPHThrivingAt75 #USAIDat60PH pic.twitter.com/lBR69NGZxV
— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) November 23, 2021
The new tools aim to help the Philippine government and its local government units address tuberculosis.
According to a 2020 report by the World Health Organization, the country registered the highest tuberculosis incidence rate in Asia the year before, after logging 554 cases for every 100,000 Filipinos.
READ: That other epidemic: TB
The Department of Health has identified TB as one of the top ten causes of death in the country, adding that tuberculosis claims the lives of around 74 Filipinos per day even if treatment is given for free in public health facilities.
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