ILOILO City – Tuberculosis (TB) claimed 858 lives in Western Visayas in 2024, with health authorities sounding the alarm over the disease’s continued spread and urging the public to take early symptoms seriously.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), 46,069 TB cases were reported last year based on data from the Integrated TB Information System.
The agency stressed that early recognition of symptoms and prompt medical intervention are vital to reduce infections and deaths.
“Early detection and treatment remain the cornerstone of TB control. We need the public to act fast once they experience any of the symptoms,” said Dr. Bea Camille F. Natalaray, Medical Officer IV of DOH Region -6’s National Tuberculosis Program – Infectious Disease Section.
TB is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs and spreads through airborne transmission. The DOH-6 emphasized four major signs to watch out for:
* cough lasting two weeks or more
* unexplained fever
* unexplained weight loss
* night sweats
Anyone experiencing at least one of these symptoms is considered a presumptive TB case and should immediately visit the nearest TB DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) facility for testing.
Despite the high number of cases, DOH-6 assured that there are 130 TB DOTS Providing Facilities throughout the region, covering all provinces and highly urbanized cities. Facilities that do not offer direct treatment are equipped to refer patients to proper centers.
Natalaray outlined the standard TB treatment regimen, which consists of a six-month course of antibiotics. The initial two months involve four key medications — Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R), Pyrazinamide (Z), and Ethambutol (E) — followed by a continuation phase using Isoniazid and Rifampicin.
“Treatment under the DOTS program is free. We want to eliminate any financial barrier that might prevent people from accessing medication,” Natalaray emphasized.
She added that direct supervision of patients during treatment helps ensure completion of the regimen and prevents drug-resistant TB.
DOH-6 also promotes TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) for individuals who have been exposed but are not yet showing symptoms — such as people living with HIV, close contacts of TB patients, and healthcare workers. This proactive strategy aims to prevent the progression from latent TB to active disease.
To verify that a patient is cured after treatment, DOH-6 protocols include sputum tests, chest X-rays, and ongoing monitoring even after treatment completion.
World TB Day Pushes Awareness
In a bid to raise awareness, DOH-6 led the 2025 World TB Day celebration on March 24 in Mina, Iloilo. The event benefited over 300 individuals through free health services including:
* chest X-rays
* HIV screening
* mental health assessments
* risk evaluation for non-communicable diseases
* medical consultations and distribution of maintenance medicine
The event drew support from multiple partner agencies, including the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, Philippine Coalition Against TB, and various regional health offices.
Additionally, a TB Van deployed throughout March conducted mobile chest X-ray screenings across underserved communities — an initiative that forms part of the DOH’s intensified active case-finding strategy./PN
