Faced with the challenge of having one of the highest levels of infant and maternal mortality and one of the lowest life expectancies in the Philippine region, the triumvirate of JICA-KOICA-USAID joined hands to address this by establishing the foundation of Universal Healthcare in BARMM.
In the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Cooperation held in Manila today, September 27, between Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the United States Agency for International Development, the three partners vow to Advance Primary Health Care towards Universal Health Care (UHC) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines.
Ambassador ENDO Kazuya witnessed the signing together with US Ambassador Marykay Loss Carlson, Embassy of Korea in the Philippines Minister Sang Seung-Man and KOICA Vice President Kim Dong Ho. Department of Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and BARMM Minister of Health Dr. Kadil M. Sinolingding Jr also attended and witnessed the signing of cooperation.
The MOC was signed by JICA Philippines Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema, KOICA Philippines Country Director Kim Eunsub, and USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn.
Ambassador Endo, in his Keynote speech, highlighted the importance of the collaboration among these three countries to promote a more resilient and efficient regional healthcare system accessible to the community and vulnerable groups within BARMM. Furthermore, Ambassador Endo mentioned that Japan will focus on strengthening maternal and newborn health services, as well as pursue improved nutrition for the region. These goals are aligned with Japan’s long commitment to human security and peace-making efforts within BARMM, and promotes Japan’s “Women, Peace and Security” agenda.