Anti-TB program wins national excellence award
San Jose, Antique -- The Antique anti-tuberculosis program dubbed as Public-Private Mix DOTS (Directly-Observed Treatment Short-course) or PPMD won the National Excellence Award with St. Paul's Hospital in Iloilo City and City of Bacolod, Negros Occidental which made Region 6 as best implementor of anti-TB program in the country.
Dr. Norman Tanchuan, Medical Coordinator, Provincial Health Office said that, strong political will of the Local Government Units, outstanding performance of the health workers and community support made PPMD Antique successful with cure rate of 88% in 2005.
Data from the Provincial Health Office revealed that tuberculosis ranked numbers 5 and 6 in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity respectively. It can be noted that last year Antique has 1,168 treated cases with case detection rate of 92.33%.
The Rural Health Unit (RHU) of San Jose was the pilot area for PPMD funded by the Global Fund which provided for financial assistance intended for medicines of patients positive of tuberculosis at the estimated amount of more than P2, 000.00 per individual. After a patient is diagnosed through sputum and X-ray examinations and found positive of TB he/she is referred to the RHU where he/she lives and will avail of TB medications for free.
Despite the fact that only 10 of the 18 RHUs are DOTS accredited and 17 have Sentrong Sigla quality seal, all RHUs in the province are providing TB medications for free sourced out either from their local funds, PhilHealth and other donors said, Mila Laureta, Provincial TB Coordinator.
Dr. Tanchuan emphasized that the support of the Antique Medical Society and Philippine Association of Private Practitioners in the province is vital to the success of the Public-Private Mix DOTS. The Antique coalition against TB has created Antique Diagnostic Committee to review all TB cases referred to both public and private practitioners for treatment.
The Provincial Health Office affirmed its commitment to maintain its high detection and cure rate to help reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis in the country. The national excellence award is a challenge to further improve our health interventions towards a healthy province and country in general said Dr. Tanchuan. This is in line with the priority thrust of the present administration of providing quality health services for all.
(PIA)