DOH notes rise in number of TB cases

CEBU, Philippines - Health authorities say it’s not alarming yet, but there is a five-percent increase in the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in Central Visayas.

The Department of Health (DOH) 7, however, attributes the increase to their successful advocacy on TB prevention, that’s why more cases are reported.

Jocelyn Tabotabo, DOH-7 nurse coordinator of the National TB Program, said that their consistent education campaign for the public to seek early medical consultation for chronic cough, and their partnership with the private hospitals and physicians, bore positive fruits as reflected in more people reporting cases for treatment.

“A five-percent increase every quarter would mean new 50 TB cases for the past three months,” Tabotabo said.

Based on the records of the National TB office, Tabotabo said there are 12,032 TB cases, the bulk of which come from Cebu Province with 3,897 followed by Bohol with 2,157 cases. Negros Oriental has 1,954 TB cases and Siquijor, 175 reported cases.

The Cebu Province data excluded the cases in Cebu City which recorded 1,881 TB cases followed by Mandaue City with 1,077 cases and Lapulapu City with 891 cases.

Tabotabo said TB is the seventh leading cause of morbidity and mortality rate in Central Visayas but in the national level, TB ranks sixth as the leading cause of illness and deaths.

Apart from the regular education and information campaign on TB, they have also partnered with private physicians and hospitals for case detection rate, she said.

TB affects mostly people who have lowered resistance brought about by other diseases, fatigue and those who may not be able to get the right nutrition, Tabotabo added. 

For private physicians, Tabotabo said they asked them to refer positive TB cases to rural health units or barangay health centers because the government provides free medicines for TB treatment.

But for private hospitals which have partnered with the DOH-7 in a program dubbed ‘Private-Public Mixed DOTS,” these hospitals established TB units where they provide free consultation and complete drug regimen courtesy of the DOH-7.

Tabotabo advised people who have cough for more than two weeks to seek early medical consultation in their nearest barangay health center because TB is treatable. Other manifestations of the disease include fever, chest and back pain, hemoptysis and sudden weight loss. — (FREEMAN)