PhilOHUN Global Health Security (GHS) Kick-Off Meeting in Pasay City, Philippines

With the support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Philippine One Health University Network (PhilOHUN) in collaboration with Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) organized the PhilOHUN Global Health Security (GHS) kick-off meeting in Pasay City, Philippines on 28-29 March 2023. The meeting convened One Health stakeholders in the Philippines to identify key capacity development needs and gaps in the short, medium, and long terms, including the role of universities in addressing the gaps. Welcome remarks were given by Dr. Michael L. Tee, PhilOHUN Chairperson; Michelle Lang-Alli, Director of USAID Philippines Office of Health; and Dr. Kenneth G. Ronquillo, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary for Policy and Infrastructure Development.

Dr. Michael L.Tee, Chair of PhilOHUN, University of the Philippines, Manila (UP Manila)

After the welcome remarks, Dr. Tee introduced PhilOHUN and described their key strategies, raising OH awareness and capacity building, before discussing their future and important next steps. Then, Dr. Ernesto Bontuyan, Project Management Specialist of the USAID Philippines, presented on “USAID’s Vision for a Safer World” and highlighted the increasing incidence of emerging antimicrobial resistant pathogens and zoonotic spillover events. USAID’s GHS program is designed to prevent, detect, and respond to these threats as well as address identified gaps and enhance surveillance capacity. Dr. Vipat Kuruchittham, SEAOHUN Executive Director, gave an overview of SEAOHUN, the USAID One Health Workforce – Next Generation Project, and the PhilOHUN GHS Project. Dr. Vipat reinforced the role of universities in producing competent professionals and raising the country's capacity to combat infectious disease threats.

Dr. Ernesto Bontuyan, Project Management Specialist of the USAID Philippines