Declaring the 2nd Week of July of Every Year as "National Infection Prevention and Control Week," and the 2nd Saturday of July of Every Year as "Surgical Infection Prevention Awareness Day"

June 23, 2020

PROCLAMATION NO. 971

DECLARING THE SECOND WEEK OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR AS "NATIONAL INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL WEEK," AND THE SECOND SATURDAY OF JULY OF EVERY YEAR AS "SURGICAL INFECTION PREVENTION AWARENESS DAY"

WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the "Universal Health Care Act," provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure that all Filipinos are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions and protected from risks and hazards that could affect their health;

WHEREAS, the State recognizes infection as a major health problem, which has a significant impact on mortality, morbidity and quality of life, and acknowledges that the threats posed by infection resulting in epidemics, pandemics and antimicrobial resistance have become more evident; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to emphasize prevention and health promotion as tools to address the threats posed by infection, and attain a safer, more effective and higher quality of health service delivery;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the second week of July of every year as "National Infection Prevention and Control Week," and the second Saturday of July of every year as "Surgical Infection Prevention Awareness Day."

The Department of Health, in coordination with relevant non-government organizations and professional associations, shall promote the observance of the "National Infection Prevention and Control Week" and "Surgical Infection Prevention Awareness Day."

All hospitals, both public and private, including teaching and training hospitals, local government-owned hospitals, clinics and health facilities, are hereby encouraged to participate and assist in the conduct of relevant programs, projects and activities for the successful implementation of this Proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 116, No. 28, p. 4636 on July 13, 2020.