Sunday, June 01, 2014

Aklan officials renew support to eliminate and control TB



BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL



Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores and town mayors pledged their support for the Local Tuberculosis (TB) program in a ceremonial signing during the Provincial-Municipal local chief executives dialogue on TB control on May 30 here.


In Aklan, there are 20 rural health units, three hospitals and a clinic accredited and certified DOTs facilities.


Last year, Aklan had an annual case detection of 90 percent compared to 101 percent in 2012. Aklan also registered 91 percent tuberculosis cure rate in 2013 from a low of 77 percent in 2010.


Recognizing the need for a more unified and concerted effort, the governor also vowed to undertake support for the Ligtas na Pamilyang Pilipino laban sa TB (LPP-TB Program) by organizing and institutionalizing the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Alliance for TB Control (PMSA) and by improving compliance of provincial and district hospitals to Philippine Plan of Action to Control TB (PhilPACT) standards and TB Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (TB DOTS) treatment protocols. 


As part of the pledge, the provincial government of Aklan will also provide financial support to strengthen TB service delivery mechanisms and to promote and strengthen public-private sector collaboration and multi-sectoral partnerships for TB control at the local level.


The multi-sectoral Aklan Tuberculosis Council also plan this year to install remote smearing sites in Geographically Isolated and Displaced Areas (GIDA) and MultiDrug-Resistant (MDR) TB satellite treatment center at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital. 


The collaborations of Department of Health (DoH), the province of Aklan and other partners had ensured that TB diagnostic, treatment and information services are available and accessible to the communities.


For decades, tuberculosis has been among the top killers and causes of disease despite a rigorous struggle through the National TB program. 

About 200,000 to 600,000 Filipinos have TB, with 75 people die daily from this curable disease.

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