TB cure program a success – DOH

CEBU, Philippines - A testament of the rigorous campaign to address tuberculosis, being one of the leading causes of deaths in the country and the world, regional health authorities bared some positive marks that the National TB Control Program has achieved for 2013.

NTP Central Visayas coordinator Jocelyn “Joy” Tabotabo said cure and treatment success rate for TB last year exceeded the target, though case detection has yet to improve.  Surpassing the 85 percent target was last year’s 89 percent cure rate, while treatment success rate is two percent higher than the target 90 percent.

However, case detection rate fell short at 76 percent from the target 85.

On a positive note, comparison of case detection rate from the period 2005 shows that last year’s record was the highest where 2005 had only 56 percent, followed by 63, 63, 73, 72, 70, 66, 68 and 76, respectively.

Moreover, cure rate has been consistently higher than the target 85 percent for the past four years starting but the most recent data lower than the base year with 2010 having 90 percent, 88 percent for 2011, 86 percent for 2012, and 89 percent for 2013.

Treatment success rate is likewise showing a positive spark for 2013 hitting 92 percent, two percent higher than the target.

Data from NTP office of DOH-7 showed that Siquijor province registered the highest contribution with 95 percent, closely followed by Bohol with 94, Negros Oriental with 93 percent, Cebu province with 92, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities tied with 90 percent, while Cebu City is lowest with 89 percent.

Healthcare facilities in Central Visayas that have contributed to the achievement of positive results in terms of TB control were recognized in the World TB Day celebration held at Parklane Hotel in Cebu City.

Among the rural health units/city health office based TB Directly Observed Treatment Shourcourse (DOTS) hitting the 85 percent CDR and 90 percent TSR recognized during the World TB Day celebration were Dumaguete City Health Office, Tanjay PPMD I, Mandaue CHO, Alcoy RHU, Cordova RHU, Tabuelan RHU, Naga CHO, Alicia RHU, Antequera RHU, Calape RHU, Duero RHU, Loon RHU I, E. Villanueva RHU, San Juan RHU.

Recognized hospital-based PPMD (Based on TB Referral Rate, Referral Acceptance Rate, TSR and Case Contribution) included Eversley Child’s Sanitarium and Silliman University Medical Center.

Newly-engaged Hospital DOTS Implementers either as TDPH/TDRH (based on Case Contribution, TRR and RAR) included Talisay District Hospital, Don Emilio del Valle Hospital, Cebu Provincial Hospital- Balamban, and Juan Dosado Memorial Hospital- Sogod.

Receiving Special Citation were Ramiro Community Hospital and Mandaue City.

Also recognized were various health office partners like Philippine Business for Social Progress, Innovations and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of TB (IMPACT); a USAID Grantee, Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Cebu Doctors’ Group of Hospitals.

Another set of Special Citation for TBDC were also given to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center TBDC, Cebu Institute of Medicine-Paknaan (TBDC), Cebu Provincial Health Office- TBDC, Silliman University Medical Center, Inc., TBDC, Bohol Provincial Health Office TBDC, and Dept. of Health TBDC.A total of 160 DOTS facilities are operating in Central Visayas, 96 are PhilHealth accredited.

Further, there are 127 DOH-PhilCAT (Philippine Coalition Against TB) certified DOTS facilities in the region, 41 public and 25 private hospitals engaged in the Hospital DOTS Referral System.

Under the TB in Prisons initiative, there have been 34 BJMP jail facilities and two provincial jails in Cebu and Negros Oriental tapped by the NTP and engaged in providing TB DOTS services.

Also, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and Eversly Child Sanitarium are the identified MDR-TB Treatment Centers and Treatment Satellites. — (FREEMAN)