A luncheon meeting on the matter of fighting tuberculosis was held on Wednesday, May 5 in Gov. Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center, New Buswang, Kalibo. The meeting was the start or resumption of the campaign in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) of the Provincial Government of Aklan in partnership with the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc. (PTSI).
Until today, TB is still a major health problem, highly infectious disease though curable, the top leading morbidity and mortality that causes death if allowed untreated. According to records, 75 Filipinos die of TB daily. It infects three (3) times more males than female. One TB patient in a family may infect all the family members.
TB is one of the 10 leading causes of deaths it the Philippines. Fortunately, TB is not among the 10 in Aklan. But poverty increases a person’s risk to TB.
In order to succeed in the eradication of TB, the following components are needed: 1. political component, 2. laboratory for diagnostic, 3. treatment of patient for 6-8 months, 4. regular, uninterrupted drug supply, and 5. proper recording and reporting of TB cases.
Dr. Lalaine Mortera, program manager of PTSI during the meeting discussed the role of the private sector in TB control. Dr. Edith G. Gimatea discussed the TB local situation of Region VI with special emphasis in Aklan.
In order to eradicate TB, PTSI, TB LINC, and LGU Aklan will 1. expand and improve the delivery of DOTS services in the private sector; 2. improve the policy, financing and regulatory environment for private sector participation in DOTS; 3. strengthen the policy and institutional governance for private sector involvement; and 4. increase the acceptance and practice of DOTS among private sector providers. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment