DOH-7 signs pact vs tuberculosis

CEBU, Philippines - As international health agencies celebrate World TB Day, the Department of Health Central Visayas yesterday signed an agreement with various stakeholders for treatment facility enhancement to ensure case detection and cure in the region.

Recipients of the P4.4 million in total Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB DOTS) facilities rehabilitation were 16 local government units in Bohol and three others from northern Cebu.

In Bohol, recipients of the P200,000 financial assistance for rehabilitation of TB DOTS centers included the municipalities of Antequera, Baclayon, Calape, Catigbian, Loon, Sikatuna, Tubigon, Inabanga, Anda, Candijay, Sevilla, Corella, Lila, Loboc, and Carmen.

Northern Cebu beneficiaries of the grant from DOH National TB Control Program are Bantayan and Madridejos both in Bantayan Island and the municipality of Medellin.

"The main factor in choosing the recipients is that they are mostly disaster hit area to be able to also help in the rehabilitation of the health facilities in these areas," said Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH Central Visayas assistant director.

Bohol was jolted by a powerful earthquake in October while northern Cebu was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

National TB Control Program has spent P20 million since 2012 and this year, DOH has allotted P8 million for Central Visayas, Legaspi added.

Regional TB Control Program Coordinator Jocelyn "Joy" Tabotabo urged all sectors to help the government in aiming for the missed 3 million TB patients worldwide.

"We are encouraging for a collaborative effort in addressing TB as well as erasing stigma that this gives to our patients as this is curable and for free. The government cannot do it alone. We need assistance from our private health care providers, and the public," Tabotabo said.

As part of the TB In Jail program of the DOH, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-7 also got P200,000 for  its TB program while the city and district jails of Tagbilaran, Danao, Guihulngan, Dumaguete and Bayawan also received the same financial assistance.

Tabotabo emphasized that the health agency is augmenting the BJMP in the construction of isolation cells for inmates with TB because the disease is contagious. A total of 106 cases were recorded for the year 2013 from the 8,100 total inmates in Central Visayas, said BJMP- 7 director, Chief Superientendent Deogracias Tapayan.

Signifying their strong commitment to help the national government implement the National TB Control Program, private and public health institutions also signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

These included Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Sacred Heart Hospital, Eversly Child Sanitarium, Perpetual Soccour Hospital, Silliman University Medical Center Inc., Borja Family Hospital, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Tagbilaran Community Hospital, Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital, Visayas Community Medical Center, Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu Doctors' University Hospital Inc., Cebu North General Hospital, Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital, Mandaue City Hospital, Amosup Seamen's Hospital, St. Vincent General Hospital, Adventist Hospital Cebu, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Cebu City Medical Center, Camp Lapu-Lapu Army Station Hospital (AFP Hospital), Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, Mactan Doctors' Hospital, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, Siquijor Provincial Hospital, Ramiro Community Hospital, Cebu Provincial Hospital Balamban, Juan B. Dosado Memorial Hospital, Mariano Jesus Cuenco Memorial Hospital, Badian District Hospital, Bantayan District Hospital, Cebu Provincial Hospital Bogo City, Cebu Provincial Hospital Carcar City, Cebu Provincial Hospital Danao City, Daanbantayan District Hospital, Dr. Jose Ma. V. Borromeo Memorial Hospital, Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital, Minglanilla District Hospital, Oslob District Hospital, Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital, Tuburan District Hospital.

In 2013, Central Visayas recorded 76 percent in case detection with 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. DOH-7 data revealed that about 13,783 were infected with TB last year.

Moreover, the celebration of  World TB Day also recognized top implementing health facilities in the region as well as media partners including The Freeman, SunStar Cebu, Cebu Daily News, Manila Bulletin, TV5 Cebu, and GMA Cebu. — (FREEMAN)