Chevron launches health program

MANILA, Philippines - Chevron Philippines Inc. has recently launched in Manila the “Labanan ang TB Para sa Tsuper Healthy” awareness campaign in line with its $5-million program aimed at fighting tuberculosis in the Philippines as the first corporate champion of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The launch was highlighted by the unveiling of the Chevron (formerly Caltex) Anti-TB bus that will go around Manila’s public transport terminals to conduct on-board seminars about TB.

Caltex Philippines Inc. changed in March 2006 its name to align itself with its parent company, Chevron Corp., and present a clear, united and stronger identity for the global corporation across the 180 countries it operates in, the company said.

The oil company has been assisting in providing fuel for the past 75 years. Dean Gilbert, Chevron Global Lubricants area business manager, said the awareness drive aims to provide public transport drivers, their families, and commuters with accurate information about TB symptoms, prevention, and cure.

Gilbert said the TB awareness campaign is founded on the belief that the best assistance they can give the public is by empowering them with the right information.

“By knowing the difference between what is fact and fiction, the fight against TB is already half won. By encouraging our valued customers such as the public transport drivers to know the symptoms of the disease and encourage everyone they know to get an early check up, we believe we can stop the spread of tuberculosis,” Gilbert said.

To strengthen its campaign in Manila, Chevron will also hold community-based seminars in Pandacan, which is home to Chevron’s terminal. After making commitment to help in the fight against TB, Gilbert said, since then, almost 8,175 service deliverers have been educated in providing quality TB services.

Gilbert said more than 6,144 health care providers were trained in community care and treatment for Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB, provided to about 1,778 patients who were no longer responding to first line anti-TB drugs. MDR treatment costs more than P200,000 for at least 18 months of treatment.

In addition to this financial grant, Chevron Philippines also vowed to leverage its network of facilities such as the Caltex service stations as centers for TB information dissemination as part of the awareness campaign. Chevron is among the country’s largest investors, with more than $2 billion in capital investments. Its subsidiaries provide direct and indirect employment for at least 18,000 people nationwide.

Aside from the TB Helpline number, Chevron will also be providing flyers, posters and hold audio-visual presentations for wide dissemination. Through its Anti-TB Helpline 381-1010, the petroleum company established a link between the public and free TB treatment facilities such as Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) centers. People who call the helpline are directed to the DOTS center nearest their residence for assistance. The campaign had its pilot site in Makati were 1,800 public utility jeepney  drivers and their families where engaged