ILOILO – To mark World Tuberculosis Day tomorrow, the Department of Health – Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) is encouraging residents to go to rural health units (RHUs) or any health facility if they are manifesting signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (TB).
Robinson A. Canson, medical technologist IV and regional coordinator for the tuberculosis program of DOH-WV CHD, said among the signs and symptoms of TB are cough that lasts for two weeks or more, night sweating or fever at night for no reason, fever, and unexplained weight loss.
“Kon kamo may sintomas dapat magpa-checkup sa aton sentro. Indi kamo maghuya-huya kay ang TB mabulong,” Canson said in an interview with Panay News.
TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and it most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit. A person needs to inhale only a few germs to become infected.
Canson added once a person is infected with TB, there is a high possibility of infecting family members, especially since it is airborne, like when coughing without a facemask or not covering the mouth, sneezing, talking or singing, or inhaling the droplets, among others.
“Indi na sia makuha sa aton utensils kay ang transmission is airborne,” said Canson.
According to Canson, there is no need to worry about the cost of medication for TB because it is free.
A person who has the symptoms of TB needs to go to the RHU to get a chest x-ray and be tested.
Once confirmed, the health officer will refer the person to the TB Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS) facility in RHUs or hospitals.
A TB patient is treated over six months, and after this, he will be retested to find out if the disease has been suppressed.
Canson also encouraged the public to participate or be made aware of when the DOH-WV CHD would go to barangays to conduct free chest x-rays or TB screening.
TB CASES IN THE REGION
From Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022, Region 6 recorded 31,152 TB cases:
* Negros Occidental – 11,110
* Iloilo – 6,869
* Iloilo City – 2,421
* Bacolod City – 3,148
* Capiz – 2,492
* Aklan – 2,087
* Antique – 2,527
* Guimaras – 498
In 2021, the region recorded 29,438 TB cases – 19 percent higher than the 23,858 cases in 2020.
Here is the breakdown of cases in 2021:
* Aklan – 1,663
* Antique – 1,915
* Capiz – 2,629
* Guimaras – 667
* Iloilo – 5,595
* Iloilo City – 2,812
* Negros Occidental – 10,518
* Bacolod City – 3,639
ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD TB DAY
To raise awareness about TB in the community, the DOH-WV CHD launched a radio segment, “TICKTALK,” on March 19, which could be heard and watched over Aksyon Radyo Iloilo.
The TICTAK, or TB Information Collaboration Talk, aims to educate the public on how to prevent and cure TB.
On March 21, the DOH-WV CHD launched the Integrated Delivery of TB Services iDOTS Phase II in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
And tomorrow, March 24, there will be a press conference to give an update and campaign about TB in the region.
Reading materials about TB are also placed in conspicuous spaces.
The health advocacy campaign of the DOH-WV CHD, together with other offices and local government units, continues so that more people can be educated about TB.
This year’s theme for World TB Day is “Tara’t magbayanihan, TB ay tuldokan.”/PN
