MANILA, Philippines - As part of its ongoing campaign to combat tuberculosis (TB), the Parañaque City government under the leadership of Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr., and through the City Health Office headed by Dr. Olga Virtusio and the World Vision, recently launched the “Adopt-a-TB Patient program during the Lung Month celebration at SM City Bicutan in Barangay Don Bosco.
According to Dr. Sonia Timbang-Madjus, Parañaque City National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) medical coordinator, the project will improve the cure rate of the city, which is actually one of the very few in the National Capital Region (NCR) that has already attained the national target.
Considering that nutrition plays a vital role in healing a patient with a chronic disease like TB, the strategy is to provide all the TB patients enrolled in the designated health centers with one full square meal a day. As the majority of these patients belong to the lowest income brackets, this project will not only improve their overall health but will also serve as an incentive for them to visit their respective health centers daily and therefore complete their treatment regimen.
The project, which will be piloted in the nine barangay health centers where the Social Mobilization for Tuberculosis (SMT) project is being implemented, will initially cater only to five patients, particularly the most indigent, as assessed by the health center staff. The funds and/or pledges that will be gathered through sponsorship letters will be distributed to the nine health centers, to be divided equally among all the 45 patients. After all the enrolled patients have been cured as their treatment is completed, the project will be evaluated and assessed for future expansion and continuation in all the 16 barangays of the city.
“We want to ensure that TB patients, especially those below the lower income bracket, get their medication as well as a balanced and healthy diet which is essential to their recovery. By launching this program with the help of the World Vision, the DOH, and other NGOs, we will be able to hit two birds with one stone, so to speak,” says Mayor Bernabe.
During the recent celebration of the Lung Month, winners of the Best Feature Story contest were chosen from Brgy. San Isidro, La Huerta, BF Homes, Sun Valley, Moonwalk, and Merville. Prizes in the form of grocery items were awarded, not only to the writers but also to the patients and treatment partners. Free blood pressure monitoring, consultation, health education, and film showing were also held during the event.