Building capacity on One Health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: Connecting disciplines in the Philippines

Background and Aim: There have been limited capacity-building activities on One Health in the Philippines. To contribute to capacity development in One Health, the authors conducted the first short course on One Health in the country for health, allied health, and collaborating professionals. This study aimed to review the preparation and implementation of the One Health course and describe the challenges and opportunities of conducting the course during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: The course curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary group of experts. The objectives for the course were as follows: (1) Describe the concept, scope, and applications of One Health; (2) identify social and economic factors influencing food security and safety, control of zoonoses, and combating antimicrobial resistance; and (3) describe the challenges and opportunities in applying the One Health approach to achieve better public health outcomes. Recruitment of participants was based on predetermined criteria. The 3-day course was conducted online through Zoom. Pre- and post-tests as well as the evaluation of the course were administered through Google forms. Results: The 3-day online course was attended by 136 participants from 15 of the 17 administrative regions of the country. A multidisciplinary group of experts delivered a total of 11 lectures divided into the following sessions: (1) Fundamentals of One Health; (2) Interrelatedness of Human, Animal, and Environmental Health; and (3) Applications of One Health. Conclusion: As the first One Health course in the Philippines, this 3-day course demonstrated the feasibility of conducting capacity-building on One Health for a multidisciplinary group of participants during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. It may serve as a model for similar and more in-depth courses on One Health for specific groups in the future and has set the stage for intersectoral communication and education, providing an avenue for collaboration for professionals in various disciplines, and facilitating the expansion of One Health network in the Philippines

A Qualitative Study on the Design and Implementation of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Philippines

10.3390/antibiotics11060820ANTIBIOTICS-BASEL11

A Qualitative Study on the Implementation of the Workplace TB Program in the Philippines: Challenges and Way Forward

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease that remains to be a primary health concern globally. The Philippines is among the top TB-burdened countries. Workplace TB prevention and control programs are essential to ensure the health and safety of workers and economic security. There remains a knowledge gap regarding the Philippine workplace TB prevention and control program implementation. This qualitative study involving key informant interviews reviewed the implementation of the workplace TB program in selected companies in a high TB burden region in Eastern Philippines. Results were presented under four themes in accordance with the components of the workplace TB policy: preventive strategies, medical management, data recording and reporting, and social policy. Various good practices, opportunities, and challenges in the implementation of the workplace TB program were identified. There is a need to strengthen the enforcement of policy across different components. Compliance with guidelines on preventive strategies and recording and reporting schemes needs to be intensified. Coordination across different levels and agencies may also be enhanced to allow more efficient implementation. Increased awareness of corporate decision-makers may improve company ownership of the program leading to improved implementation while increased awareness of employees on their rights and entitlements may likewise enhance compliance