Baguio: The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) on Wednesday announced that 5,827 individuals have been enrolled in free tuberculosis (TB) treatment after being identified through various community testing activities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH-CAR reported that 283,420 individuals were screened through X-ray testing, and those confirmed positive for TB were identified through sputum testing. Of these, 5,827 individuals have successfully completed an eight-month treatment program, as stated by DOH-CAR Regional Director Dr. Karen Austria during the "Kapihan" held at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional office in Baguio.
Dr. Austria emphasized the significance of increased screening to treat TB carriers, highlighting the curable yet highly transmissible nature of the disease, especially in closed settings and among household members. She expressed concern regarding the gap in testing, noting that only over 2,000 contacts of those who tested positive were screened. This shortfall, she pointed out, indicates a lack of awareness about the importance of testing and treatment.
TB is primarily transmitted through the air by individuals with the disease, especially when they cough, sneeze, or spit without proper precautions. DOH data indicated a 46 percent rise in TB-related deaths from 2015 to 2022, with TB being the eighth leading cause of mortality in the Philippines by 2025. The majority of cases are males aged 15 and above, accounting for 61 percent of the deaths, followed by females in the same age group at 32 percent, and children aged zero to 14 years old at 7 percent.
Dr. Austria identified older adults, specifically those aged 55 and above, as having the most active cases. Symptoms of TB include a prolonged cough lasting more than two weeks, unexplained fever, weight loss, and night sweats. She urged individuals exhibiting these symptoms to visit TB DOTS facilities for appropriate testing and treatment, which are provided free of charge.
She reiterated the government's commitment to eliminating TB, urging the public to make annual testing a regular practice.
