The Philippines on Saturday set a new Guinness World Record for “largest human lung formation” ahead of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.
An official adjudicator from the Guinness World Records made the announcement, saying that the Philippines made a new record of 5,596 participants, surpassing India with 5,003 participants in 2017, according to a Super Radyo DZBB report by Carlo Mateo.
The country’s “human lung” was formed at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
The participants initially failed to achieve the correct lung formation during the first attempt but attained it on the second attempt minutes later.
The shape of a lung through the formation of people wearing green and red shirts was seen via a drone shot. The participants were from various backgrounds across the country, including health workers, 4Ps beneficiaries, university students, and community members.
Health secretary Ted Herbosa accepted the plaque from the Guinness World Records.
“TB continues to be a global concern even in 2024. With over a million cases, the Philippines has the third-highest number of TB cases worldwide. Unfortunately, among all infectious diseases in the nation, TB remains one of the leading causes of death even though it can be cured,” Herbosa said.
“Our attempt to break the Guinness World Record isn’t just about setting records; it’s a call to action and a show of our shared commitment to overcome the challenges posed by tuberculosis,” added Herbosa.
“It’s a movement to reshape perceptions, break stigma, and advance the global conversation on tuberculosis, following the directive of President Marcos to stop the TB problem.”
Herbosa said that the agency continues to pursue measures to fight against tuberculosis in the country.
The World Tuberculosis Day is being commemorated on March 24 each year, to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of the disease, and to step up efforts to end it, according to the World Health Organization. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
