by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
The celebration of National Lung month in Aklan was done simply. A power point presentation of status report by Provincial Health Office on TB Program Implementation was done by Ms. Adelfa M. Cordova, Prov’l. TB Nurse Coordinator. It was done during the Aklan Council meeting attended by health advocates, doctors, nurses, midwives, chief of hospitals/clinics, pharmacists, LGU, and the media on August 9, 2012.
Pulmonary TB ranked 7th among leading causes of mortality/morbidity in the Philippines a decade ago. Today, it is no longer a threat. Thanks to the education, awareness, preventive and curative cares given by 19 Rural Health Units (RHU’s), two district hospitals and four private hospitals and clinics. The symptoms of the disease are muscle pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, blood streaks in the sputum and body weakness. Those children affected are lethargic and less playful. Two-thirds of the persons belonging to the 25-54 years old bracket are affected by TB. This causes high economic burden due to loss of income and employment opportunities.
From 2007-2011, case detection rate in Aklan increased steadily from 70-95 percent with a mean cure rate of 90 percent. The highest TB incidence is in Malay town with 150 cases. Nabas – 90 and Madalag – 89 are second and third respectively. The predominant mode of transmission is personal contact since tubercle bacilli is airborne through coughing, sneezing, and forceful talk. The persistent cough of two weeks could trigger a visit to a TB-DOTS center where accurate sputum analysis is conducted. Those found positive are given free medication of three tablets taken daily for six months. Two weeks into the regimented treatment of a patient, the bacteria are considerably weakened that active transmission from a sick person to another is minimal.
Dr. Felma Dela Cruz of Aklan Medical Society said that medication costs the government P4,000 to 6,000. Hence, the need to complete the whole treatment program as prescribed in the WHO protocol. There is inherent danger of developing drug resistant strains once the patient stops without completing the treatment period. Those patients who are initially given anti-bacterial drugs in any hospital/clinic and leave for home outside coverage of the province are referred to the nearest service provider available in the area. Aklan’s current cure rate for TB is one of the highest at 90 percent, the lady physician reported.
Notable accomplishments of the TB Council are multi-sectoral involvement, social mobilization, service delivery, local legislation enacted by 9 municipalities on “No Prescription, No Dispensing of Anti-TB Drugs and its Funding” and behavior change communication.
Program challenges/gaps are noted in eight other municipalities which have yet to adopt TB legislation. This has affected funding of critical personnel, and purchase of TB drugs and other logistics. Unless we cooperate in this health advocacy, individuals and our communities will remain susceptible to scourge of the disease. It thrives where ignorance and neglect abound concluded Ms. Cordova.
Lung month was proclaimed in memory of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon who was a prominent victim of the disease. The Aklan TB Council in coordination with stakeholders will conduct TB Case Finding in Prison in 2 cell sites – Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC), Nalook, Kalibo on August 23, 2012. Of the 283 prison inmates at ARC, two are reported symptomatic positive induced by heavy smoking, emotional stress and overcrowded living quarters. /MP
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