12 June 2019, Manila, Philippines –

It is with great sadness that the Tropical Disease Foundation announces the passing of its Beloved Light and Founder, Dr. Thelma Tupasi. She peacefully joined her Creator on June 12, 2019 surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Claver P. Ramos; their children George, Vil, Gina and John Paul.

Dr. Tupasi remains as one of country’s inspiring role models and a global pillar in the fight against infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis. Dr. Tupasi was highly regarded for her success in the 1997 and 2007 National TB Prevalence Surveys that steered the Department of Health to initiate public-private collaboration in TB care; for her vision towards universal access to health with bold efforts to address the problem of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB with the world’s first DOTS-Plus pilot project scaled up to programmatic management of drug-resistant TB; and for her dynamic international leadership as Chair of the Stop TB Working Group for DR-TB.

The Tropical Disease Foundation will continue Dr. Tupasi’s mission towards universal health care as a standard for all and to serve those who are in need.

The Tropical Disease Foundation Inc. (TDF) is a private, non-stock, non-profit organization founded in 1984 that seeks to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases with public significance through research, training and the provision of timely and relevant service."

See 'The Founder' page