The Next Generation One Health Philippines (NGOHP), a project of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine – William H. Quasha Memorial (SLMCCM-WHQM) supported by the International Alliance Against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, participated in the 3rd Global Health Security Conference. The conference was held last June 18-21, 2024 at the International Convention Center in Sydney.
This conference aims to bring together leaders, researchers, policy-makers, and representatives from various sectors to discuss global health security’s latest advancements and challenges. The event featured a diverse program, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and poster sessions. The NGOHP project was presented as a poster under the Health Security & the Human-Animal-Environmental Interface theme.
Louella Asuncion, the Project Associate of NGOHP, and Ms. Jackielyn Abela, an NGOHP fellow, represented the fellowship at the GHS 2024.
Marianne Bongcac, a research associate at St. Luke’s and NGOHP affiliate, presented a study titled “Rapid Multi-Method Assessment of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Wet Market Biosecurity and Food Security in the Philippines” at the conference. The study emphasized the necessity of enhancing wet market biosecurity in the Philippines, particularly in light of the pandemic’s impact on small-scale producers and low-income consumers regarding food supply.
Marianne Bongcac presented their study in one of the conference’s parallel sessions, Multidisciplinary Tools for Outbreak Control.
The opening session featured five influential women leading in global health security: Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, Ms. Precious Matsoso, Dr. Ada Bacetty, Dr. Aalisha Sahukhan, and Dr. Ayoade Alakija. Their collective insights and experiences left the audience feeling both motivated and empowered. This session also underscored the ongoing challenges faced by women in the field, serving as a powerful platform to amplify their voices. “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, stand on top of the table. If they don’t let you stand on the table, break it and make your own,” Dr. Ayoade Alakija, the chair of FIND, said.
The five remarkable women who are at the forefront of global health security.
Indeed, there is a dire need to regard health as a critical national security concern, as diseases do not respect geopolitical boundaries. Now more than ever, it is imperative to reaffirm our dedication to establishing resilient health systems. This entails an integrated effort involving partnerships among experts, government bodies, and the private sector, all while actively engaging the communities we aim to support. Such collaborative efforts are essential in fostering sustainable healthcare solutions and safeguarding public health.
