DOH to LGUs: Empower TB task force teams

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-7 has called on local government units to activate their TB task force teams to detect and cure more patients with tuberculosis in Central Visayas.

 The case detection rate fell short by three percent of the 85 percent target last year. In 2013, only 76 percent cases were detected.

 But, DOH notes treatment success rates last year hitting 92 percent, which is two percent higher than the national target.

 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. 

 In 2013, DOH recorded 76 percent in case detection with an 89 percent cure rate and 92 percent treatment and success rate.

 It fell short on its 85 percent target for case detection, but was able to surpass its cure rate target of 85 percent and treatment and success rate of 90 percent.   Junrey Alayacyac, nurse program coordinator of DOH, said TB task force needs to be mobilized to strengthen awareness on TB.

The members of the League of Mayors in the Philippines commit to intensify TB program implementation in their areas during the recently-concluded League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) meetings.

 The initiatives of LGUs are in line with the DOH 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.

Observe healthy lifestyle

The public are also urged to observe healthy lifestyle to avoid TB, being one of the leading causes of deaths in the country and the world.

 Dr. Eugenia Cañal, me-dical officer III of DOH-7, said everyone needs to be healthy in order not to awaken the mycobacterium in the body.

 “TB is dormant in human’s body and it will be trigged once the host is unhealthy,” she said.

The symptoms of TB are cough for over two weeks, fatigue, and fever. Once experienced, a person is advised to consult the nearest health care facility in order to help the government in detecting and treating the illness.

 Cañal clarified that TB is not transmitted through kissing (exchanging of saliva) or sharing of plates, utensils or even hereditary but transmitted by uncovered coughing or sneezing.  The TB treatment,  which is free at DOH health centers, is taken at least six months with regular intake of medicines.

 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. — (FREEMAN)