KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV TB Plus) launched the initiation of the Unitaid-funded ASCENT DR-TB Project in the Philippines in collaboration with the National TB Program (NTP), Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) of the Department of Health (DOH) last June 17, 2025 at The Manila Grand Opera Hotel. The event was attended by partners and interest-holders from the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL), Philippines Coalition against TB (PhilCAT), National Capital Region, National TB Medical Advisory Committee, Philippines Business for Social Progress and civil society groups (TB Heals, TB People Philippines and Samahang Lusog Baga).
TB situation in the Philippines
The Philippines is one of the five countries that account for 56% of the total estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidence worldwide. It is also one of the five countries that account for more than half of the global number of people estimated to have developed multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in 2023 together with India, the Russian Federation, Indonesia and China.
About the event
During the Launch, Dr. Agnes Gebhard, Technical Director of KNCV Global Office in the Hague, welcomed the participants and thanked the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau for the opportunity to strengthen its collaboration with the DOH; Dr. Mamel Quelapio, Consultant for KNCV, gave an overview of the ASCENT DR-TB Project in the Philippines. Dr. Rosalind Vianzon, Division Chief for TB and HIV at DPCB gave an inspirational message on behalf of Assistant Secretary Farwa M. Hombre of the Public Health services Cluster and Director IV, DPCB.
Providing a context to the technical assistance of ASCENT DR-TB, NTP Program Manager Dr. Charisse Malbacias provided an update on the status of DR-TB in the Philippines. Dr. Kyung Oh, Medical Officer in WHO Western Pacific Region, gave an overview of the WHO guidelines on preventive treatment for TB and DR-TB; and the Head of the National TB Reference Laboratory, Dr. Ramon Basilio discussed innovative diagnostics, focusing on Stool Xpert for Children. The event closed with Dr. Rosalind Vianzon, sharing the next steps in the project implementation.
ASCENT DR-TB in the Philippines
Funded by Unitaid, ASCENT DR-TB is a multi-country project that aims to facilitate the operationalization of World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommendations on drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in the Philippines along with Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique and Ukraine. The project will support three identified needs of the NTP based on the self-assessment and stakeholder consultations in November last year, namely:
- capacity building for iDOTS facilities;
- scale up of stool Xpert testing among children; and
- introduction of TB preventive therapy for DR-TB contacts.
Stay tuned for more news!