14 July 2015 – Philippine Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin met with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark on July 10 to discuss a host of issues including the Ebola Virus Disease, reproductive health, and the continuing close partnership between the Philippines and UNDP.

Secretary Garin is in New York to attend the International Ebola Recovery Conference where she delivered a statement on the Philippines’ commitment to do its share in coming up with a global response against the threat of the Ebola as well as in sustaining the resiliency of its own health systems.

Ms. Clark lauded President Benigno S. Aquino III’s strong advocacy for reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS issue and expressed hope that more will be accomplished on these areas before his term ends.

For her part, Secretary Garin thanked Ms. Clark for UNDP’s assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan which hit the country in November 2013. Ms. Clark acknowledged the Philippines’ expertise in disaster risk reduction and lauded the country’s systematic and good planning for disasters. She also expressed confidence that the Philippines will continue to rise up to the challenge of climate change. END