Public now more informed on TB

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health continues to note the increase of tuberculosis cases in the country every year.

But health officials stated that this in fact is a good sign, as far as the awareness of the public on TB is concerned since more and more people are apparently reporting TB cases as compared to the previous years. 

DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernados stressed that one of their main concerns on TB is on the awareness.

“Duna tay gamayng problema kabahin sa TB. Nagkaproblema ta in terms of ignorance. Ang uban dili gusto mahibaw-an nga duna silay TB, mu-deny nga duna sila ana. Ang TB dali matambalan ug kinahanglan matambalan,” said Bernadas.

He stressed that those who are experiencing symptoms of TB like cough, fatigue and fever must consult the nearest health care facility in order to help the government in detecting and treating the illness.

“Mas makatabang ka kung magpatan-aw ka sa pinakaduol nga doctor. Direct sputum microscopy gyud ang pinaka reliable nga pag-confirm kung dunay TB or wala ang usa  ka pasyente,” Bernadas explained, adding that patients need not worry should they test positive since the government has a treatment program that they can avail of.

Jocelyn Tabotabo, Rabies and TB Control Program Coordinator, said they see the increase in the number of TB cases reported every year which they note as a positive sign of the increased awareness of the public.

“We are updating the manual of program. The cases are increasing every year. As of third quarter of 2013, there are already 13,783 active TB cases in the region. This has about two to three thousand difference,” Tabotabo said.

She added that DOH and private organizations have been focused on information dissemination for the past years. 

The TB Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) package is the government’s main program that intends to increase detection and treatment of patients with TB.

There are a total of 96 Philhealth-accredited TB DOTS centers as of December 31, 2013 in Central Visayas with Cebu topping the list with 42 TB DOTS centers, followed by Bohol with 35, Oriental Negros with 18, and Siquijor with one.

Further, Tabotabo said that DOH is currently tapping private hospitals to coordinate with the government in documenting the cases and treatment of tuberculosis.

“Last year, we started negotiations with big private hospitals for more successful implementation of TB control program,” she explained.

World TB Day is celebrated every March 24. This year, the celebration has a theme “Reach the three million: A TB test, treatment and cure for all.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are nine million people who get sick with TB every year but three million don’t get the proper treatment.  (FREEMAN)