Stop Pulmonary Tuberculosis Now!

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

August is celebrated annually as Lung month in honor of the memory of the late Pres. Manuel L. Quezon who was a high profile victim of pulmonary TB. Consequently, the Quezon (QI) Institute was founded that thousands of people living in pariah at that time can be treated of the said malady. But QI is now being used for other purpose.

Guests of the weekly Kapehan on August 29, 2009 were Rotarians who are Pres. Joel Mercurio, Sec. Dr. Leonardo Tayco, Jr., and Dr. Victor Santamaria, Asst. District Governor.

Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente, Past President of the Rotary Club of Kalibo cited the benefits of information dissemination about an ancient killer disease that continues to snap out human lives up to the present. Majority of the victims however are the helpless and poor inhabitants.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino mentioned of the Mayo Clinic in the US which underscored early detection and treatment. He said that prevention includes keeping one’s immune system healthy, getting periodic skin/sputum test for high risk people and prophylactic treatment of at least six months.

Dr. Tayco said that Rotary District 3850 headed by Mr. Ed Garci has embarked on an aggressive national program titled, "Global Stop TB" in partnership with WHO. Statistics show that 75 Filipinos die daily due to pulmonary TB. One (1) in 10 persons develop active PTB. It is a disease of poverty. Bacteria known as tubercle bacilli spreads through air (coughing and sneezing) and one person has the potential to infect 10-15 persons per year if patient is left untreated. Undoubtedly, PTB is highly contagious and lethal if proper safeguards are not in place, warns Dr. Tayco.

Mr. Mercurio stated that Gov. Carlito S. Marquez has initiated the organization of Aklan PTB Council during the Multi-Sectoral celebration of Lung month. The council targeted 50 percent reduction of active PTB by 2015 from 2009 data. It is expected that beyond 2015, PTB will be totally eliminated in all places of Aklan.

Meanwhile, Dr. Santamaria said that RHU is implementing the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS), a national disease prevention program that administers immunization (BCG) for children 0-6 years old, prophylactic (free medi-cation) to patients for six months and diagnostic test (sputum test). Santamaria reminded the clienteles to be faithful in taking daily medication regimen. Skipping a day or two doses could lead to multiple drug resistant PTB. Furthermore, it needs two to three weeks of continuous treatment before a patient could no longer be labeled contagious.

Issues and concerns are the Herculean task of wiping out the disease considering the widespread poverty and hunger in our midst. Hunger refers to serious deficiency of recommended dietary allowance for a normal person per day. DOH list top 10 killer disease in the province in 2008 which are pneumonia (116,24/100,000 pop), cancer (68.8/100,000), heart disease (46.65/100,000), Coronary Artery Disease/Coronary Vascular Accident (41,07/100,000), Hypertension (39.68/100,000), Accidents (32.3/100,000), Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (20.53/100,000), Renal Failure (20.33/100,000), Pulmonary TB (19.93/100,000) and Myocardia Infarthon (17.14/100,000). However, two thirds of the above cases are directly related to poverty, hence preventable.

The Philippines has only 1.6 percent of national budget (2007) for health compared to Japan’s 8 percent and US – 18 percent. WHO recommends 5-10 percent to address concerns of the fundamentally flawed health care delivery system. Dr. Rey Melchor Santos, Pres. of Philippine Medical Association said that 6,000 doctors (many holding post graduate course as certified nurses) has left the country for the past three years. Presently, there is imminent shortage of doctors and nurses that may worsen in the next 10 years.

PTB is classified by DOH as number 14 cause of morbidity and number nine cause of mortality in Aklan. By reason of poverty and hunger, people are forced to work putting themselves seriously ill and others at risk of infection. Health authorities reveal that if one person is actively infected in a family, there is 5 percent chance the whole family members may be infected. Telltale signs of the disease are prolonged coughing for two weeks accompanied by blood in the sputum, weakness, emacia-tion, and perspiration.

In Aklan, case detection (sputum test) has been posted in 70 percent of the total population according to Dr. Santamaria. This is not clear, however, if vulnerable or at risk groups were targeted such as sustenance fisher folks, and farmers cultivating less than one hectare, migrant workers and unemployed. As a group, they comprise the lower third segment of Philippine society that earns one dollar a day according to the World Bank. It’s no wonder, 3,000 Filipinos fly out of the country daily in search of green pastures.

Choosing a healthy lifestyle such as exercise, balanced nutrition, freedom from vices, rest and recreation can immensely boost body immune system. One should consider raising fruits, vegetables, and poultry in the backyard as a healthy pastime and to augment income. Farm products grown in backyards do not contain chemical residues that are carcinogenic in nature unlike those done in commercial scale.

Reduced incidence of active pulmonary TB in Aklan should be gratifying to note compared to two decades ago when lung disease ranked among the top five leading causes of mortality. It is essential though that persistent effort be done to eradicate this disease sooner.

Kapehan hosts led by Aklan Press Club, Inc. and Publishers Association of the Philippines cordially welcome Rotarians as they provide the much needed leadership, prestige, teamwork and logistics to undertake a major health concern not only in the province but the entire country. /MP