59 Health Units in Cebu Now Ready to Treat TB

A total of 59 city health offices (CHOs) and rural health units (RHUs) in Cebu are all set to deal with Tuberculosis (TB) following the order of Governor Hilario P. Davide III to establish TB Directly-Observed Treatment Short course (TB-DOTS) center in hospitals, a Provincial health official said.

Mabele Amarga, Tuberculosis program coordinator of the Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) said that aside from treating the bacterial disease, these health units will also provide tuberculosis detection for free.

Amarga said that TB detection services will be offered to all towns and cities. There are 44 municipalities and 6 component cities in Cebu.

Amarga also assured that all of these CHOs and RHUs have trained medical technicians who can assist in TB detection.

Earlier, Davide issued Executive Order No. 3, which provides for the establishment of TB DOTS centers in all medical facilities in the province in support of RA 10767, better known as the “Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Plan Act“.

The order aims to expand efforts in eliminating tuberculosis “by increasing investments for its prevention, treatment and control, and adopting a multi-sectoral approach”.

Consultation and assessment

Carlo Brillantes, TB Assistant Program Coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) 7, expressed concerns over the embarrassment caused by the infectious illness that patient refuses to undergo diagnosis despite the free check-up services.

“Some people are afraid to be diagnosed with TB because of the stigma― to think all of the services are given for free,” he said.

According to Brillantes, many Cebuanos are still scared of going near TB patients due to lack of awareness and proper education.

“If ever they have symptoms of TB, especially cough for more than 2 weeks, they should go to the nearest DOTS Center,” Brillantes said.

Moreover, Brillantes emphasized that early detection is important in treating TB. All of the medical exams are provided for free, except for the chest X-ray exam, Brillantes said.

TB symptoms include loss of weight and energy, poor appetite, fever, and night sweat.

DOTS Treatment

In 2015, PHO revealed there were 6,693 reported TB cases; of which 6,122 cases or 92% were treated.

According to PHO, the treatment success rate is 2% higher than their target success rate of 90%.

Brillantes said DOTS treatment is unique as its measures are dependent on each case. He said it is best to consult a physician in order to receive the proper form of treatment.

A DOTS treatment usually runs from six to eight months.

Private partnerships

Brillantes said that to increase detection, there is a need for more engagement among physicians and institutions.

“Through the program, we are only detecting about 1% of the cases. There are physicians and consultants who are detecting TB cases but are not reporting it to the program,” Brillantes said.

He added that one of the dangers of unreported TB cases is that some of the physicians may prescribe short-term treatments, or those that usually last for 2 months.

These medications do not assure full recovery, said Brillantes.

During the launching of TB DOTS program in Danao City last June 6, PHO head Rene Catan highlighted the importance of early detection as a way of treating the infectious bacterial disease. (Korina Lucero)

cebu.gov.ph