LGUs heighten fight against TB

CEBU, Philippines- Local government units and health agencies in Cebu province are forging synergies to fight against tuberculosis.

Dr. Pilar Mabasa, Visayas Area Manager of IMPACT (innovation of multi-sectoral partnership to achieve control of TB), said LGUs are encouraged to “detect and cure 90 percent of TB cases by 2017.”

She cited seven “doable” actions to help stop TB cases in the province and in Central Visayas.

 These are the passage policy with funding support to local TB control program; include local TB plan in the LGU investment plans for health; sustain certification and accreditation of Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) facilities; ensure or trained TB team, physician, nurse, and medical technologist, among others; build partnership with other public/private local groups; address needs of vulnerable populations; and allow local TB partners to present quarterly update during League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) meetings.

 Under DOTS, a strategy used to reduce the number of TB cases, healthcare workers observe patients as they take their medicine.

 The members of the League of Mayors in the Philippines commit to intensify TB program implementation in their areas.

 Currently, there are 17 local government units in Cebu province – including Carcar City and Compostela town – that passed TB ordinances. Other LGUs are still drafting their TB measures.

 The initiatives of LGUs are in line with the Department of Health objective of finding around 19,000 TB cases in the region based on the approximate ratio of seven million population.

 This is a ratio given by the National Tuberculosis Control Program with 275 TB cases per 100,000-population.

 Based on DOH-7 records, there are 14,204 TB cases in 2014 with Cebu province having the higher number of patients, followed by Bohol, Negros Oriental, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City.  (FREEMAN)