Cotabato City – The Ministry of Health (MOH) held a crucial meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on December 10, 2024, at MOH Compound to discuss key health initiatives in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The meeting focused on several critical areas, including the status of Universal Health Care implementation, the progress of PhilPEN implementation, the effectiveness of laboratory surveillance management and referral systems, the robustness of disease surveillance and reporting mechanisms, and the impact of information education campaigns.

The dialogue between MOH and JICA aimed to assess the current state of these initiatives, identify challenges, and explore potential areas for further collaboration. The MOH and JICA aim to improve the overall health and well-being of the Bangsamoro by strengthening these critical areas.