A Community Tuberculosis (TB) Caravan initiated by the Accelerated Implementation on DOTS Enhancement to Reach Special Population (AIDERS) Leticia P. Caysoen, Marilyn K. Kunayon, Angelica L. Liclic, and Carolyn F. Pangod and TB case finder Pamela Patal-e and funded by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in partnership with the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of the Department of Health- Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR), Provincial Government of Mountain Province and the Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) with the Rural Health Units (RHUs) of Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Sadanga, Sagada and Tadian was successfully held to address the increasing cases of TB, all forms, in the province on September 26 and 27, 2017 in Bauko and Bontoc.
The province has recorded a total of 287 TB cases, all forms, in 2015 but increased to 341 in 2016. Early detection of TB cases through strengthened TB health services delivery plays a vital role in the control of spread of the TB disease. “Let us not fear TB but let us prevent it and cure it,” Bauko Mayor Abraham B. Akilit said during his welcome remarks in the first day of the caravan.
The two-day event is a first of its kind in the province and showcased the simultaneous free mass screening of presumptive TB clients.
The first day was conducted at the Multipurpose Hall, Liga Building, Abatan, Bauko catering to clients from Sabangan, Bauko and Tadian while the second day was at the Provincial Multipurpose Building, Poblacion, Bontoc servicing clients from Barlig, Besao, Bontoc, Sadanga and Sagada to better maximize the presence of a portable X-ray machine. The municipalities of Paracelis and Natonin were not included because of their distance from the identified venues.
The caravan initially targeted 400 clients from the 8 municipalities but accommodated only a total of 533 (94 Tuberculin Skin Test or TST, 429 Chest X-ray and 10 for GeneXpert Testing).
Criteria for choosing the clients included those belonging to the vulnerable population such as Indigenous Peoples (IP) and clients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), contacts of a TB patient, and those with signs and symptoms of TB like 2 weeks or more cough, fever, chest and back pains among others.
Services include information education campaign, sputum collection for Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy (DSSM) and GeneXpert testing, TST or Protein Purine Derivative (PPD) Test for children 15 years old and below, and Chest X-ray. Snacks, meals and hygiene kits were also provided. The transportation expenses for majority of the clients were shouldered by their respective MLGUs.
The caravan was also an occasion of strengthening linkages between LGUs, health facilities, health workers and communities amongst the different municipalities in the fight to End TB
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