By Rowena Cruz The Provincial Health Office is working with partner organizations to intensify TB case-finding and treatment efforts. (Quezo...
 |
| The Provincial Health Office is working with partner organizations to intensify TB case-finding and treatment efforts. (Quezon PIA) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon – Quezon province is ramping up its efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB), with over 9,000 individuals receiving treatment for the disease. The Quezon Provincial Health Office (PHO) is intensifying case-finding and prevention strategies to address this persistent public health challenge.
According to Kenneth P. Villanueva, nurse program coordinator for the PHO's tuberculosis control program, 6,935 individuals received TB treatment in 2023, while 2,275 patients were treated last year out of 12,034 diagnosed cases. The PHO, in collaboration with various health organizations, has significantly increased active case-finding through free screenings and chest X-rays.
Crucial partners in this fight against TB include the Philippine Business for Social Progress – ACCESS TB Project, which supports patients with severe or drug-resistant TB and provides vital diagnostic equipment like the GeneXpert Machine. The Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) collaborates with private hospitals, clinics, and doctors to raise TB treatment awareness and connect them with public TB-DOTS facilities.
The Culion Foundation also plays a critical role, working to locate individuals exhibiting TB symptoms, especially those who may be hesitant to seek medical attention. These partnerships are essential to the PHO's intensified efforts to combat TB in Quezon province, ensuring comprehensive support from diagnosis to treatment.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Quezon PHO, in partnership with the Culion Foundation, will launch another round of large-scale TB screening and active case-finding to identify and treat undiagnosed cases, further reinforcing their commitment to eradicating TB in the province.
Villanueva emphasized the severity of TB as a public health issue in Quezon province, noting it as the 12th leading cause of death, according to data from the Electronic Field Health Services Information System (eFHSIS). Heart disease remains the province’s leading cause of death.
Despite the challenges, Quezon province has demonstrated progress in TB control. It ranked third in CALABARZON in the 2024 regional tuberculosis control campaign and received recognition from the Department of Health for its high TB mandatory treatment initiation, treatment success rate, and preventive enrollment.
The Quezon PHO is 1 calling on local government units, rural health units, city health offices, and hospitals throughout the province to bolster their support for tuberculosis control programs. This collaborative effort is crucial to ensure that individuals at risk receive timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive care.
No comments