ANGELES CITY — Two landmarks in this highly-urbanized city were lit up with red lights Wednesday night to signify solidarity with the advocacy of the United Nations (UN) in combatting tuberculosis (TB).
The illumination of the Holy Rosary Parish Church and Museo ning Angeles was in line with the #LightUpforTB campaign in support of the first-ever UN High Level Meeting (UN-HLM) on Tuberculosis (TB) held in New York City on Sept. 26.
The activity, themed “United to end Tuberculosis: an urgent global response to a global epidemic,” highlighted the need to accelerate efforts in ending TB and reach all affected people with prevention and care.
The lighting of the edifices was in compliance with a memorandum from the Bureau of International Health Cooperation inviting cities in the country to participate in the global movement.
City health officer Lenario Santos said they lit the façade of the structures located at the Heritage District to express the city’s support to the assembly’s agenda.
Data from the World Health Organization showed that TB was named one of the top infectious killer diseases in the world in 2017.
Santos said that an estimated 500 individuals in Angeles are currently being treated under the city’s comprehensive TB Control Program.
“We have different treatment components designed especially for children, for individuals afflicted with regular and multi-drug resistant TB, for jail inmates, and individuals who are HIV/AIDS positive,” he said.
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan urged the residents of Angeles who have TB to immediately avail of the city’s treatment program.
“Services ranging from detection, diagnosis, and a six-month treatment are free for all ages,” he said. (Ric Sapnu/PNA)
