CEBU, Philippines – Joan, 35, of Caloocan City had been coughing for more than a month and had lost appetite over the days - but she just dismissed it as regular cough and blamed it on stress from vending in the streets. Until she coughed blood. She consulted with a doctor at the health center and was diagnosed of tuberculosis.
She immediately enrolled in the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS). But it was too late, as his two sons with whom she shared their poorly ventilated house had already acquired the airborne disease.
With the doctor's instructions and Joan's swift action to have herself and her sons treated for TB, they were fortunately all cured after six months of daily health center visits for their medication. With their new knowledge from a life-threatening experience, Joan and her family now observe a healthier lifestyle.
But many others like Joan simply dismiss symptoms of TB - two weeks of coughing, loss of appetite, chest pains and weight loss - as nothing more than a regular cough, contributing to continued incidence and stigma of the disease that is actually curable.
This month, the Department of Health regional offices go on the road to reach the Joans in target areas and promote TB consciousness, as the nation observes Lung Month, a national observance held every August to "focus public attention on the pulmonary system and illnesses of the lungs and urge everyone to contribute to a better and healthier environment."
Concurrently observed is the National Tuberculosis Awareness Month to promote the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for TB, a disease that mostly affects the lungs.
To intensify the drive for TB awareness, DOH will be conducting a series of regional TB lectures and caravans in target areas and communities this month.
The TB caravans, supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through the Philippines Business for Social Progress, is expected to reach 5,000 participants nationwide. The project aims to reach individuals who would not normally visit health centers during regular TB consultation days and intensify the search for TB cases in the community.
Participating DOH regional offices are Ilocos, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Western Mindanao and Northern Mindanao. The schedule of TB caravan visits is as follows:
Pagsanghan, Samar (August 3); Siruma, Camarines Sur (August 18); Oslob, Cebu (August 25); Naga City, Cebu (August 26); Tuburan, Cebu (August 27); Zamboanga City (August 30-31).
Region 1 has already conducted their TB caravan in June and Regions 4-A, 4-B and 10 are to conduct their caravan after August.