PASSI CITY, Iloilo — Health authorities are pushing tuberculosis (TB) detection deeper into communities here, stressing that finding cases early and ensuring patients complete treatment are crucial to stopping transmission and preventing drug-resistant TB.
The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 and the Passi City government have rallied healthcare frontliners, local leaders and community representatives behind a more proactive approach to tuberculosis control, shifting emphasis from merely treating patients to preventing infections and detecting cases before they spread.
The campaign was reinforced during a Tuberculosis Awareness Program and Interactive Discussion at the Passi City Arena on Aug. 27 as part of the observance of National Lung Month.
City Health Officer II Dr. Phoebe Palomo underscored the importance of detecting tuberculosis promptly and ensuring that patients do not abandon their medication once their symptoms improve.
“Early diagnosis and completing the entire course of treatment are non-negotiable if we are to defeat TB,” Palomo said, urging residents to avail themselves of free services at local health centers.
The initiative centers on four pillars — prevention, early detection, proper treatment and treatment adherence — as health authorities seek to curb continuing TB transmission at the community level.
Under the prevention component, families are educated about TB transmission and the importance of maintaining healthy living environments.
Early detection encourages residents to undergo screening at the first sign of symptoms, allowing health workers to identify possible cases and interrupt chains of transmission.
The campaign also stresses access to correct and standardized medication regimens and sustained support for patients to ensure they complete the full course of treatment and reduce the risk of drug resistance.
Health authorities said medical intervention alone would not be enough, emphasizing the need for community support to address the stigma associated with tuberculosis that may discourage or delay people from seeking medical attention.
Passi City Mayor Stephen A. Palmares reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to funding and implementing programs aimed at protecting the health of Passinhons.
The program also brought infectious disease and public health specialists directly to health workers and community participants to discuss complex TB cases, treatment side effects and ways to strengthen contact tracing.
The panel included Dr. Ma. Cecilia Momville, Dr. Eli John Berame and Dr. Analyn Jumeras of the Center for Infection Control and Treatment, and Dr. Jewel Mae Quiñon of the Passi City Health Office.
The Philippine College of Chest Physicians–Iloilo Chapter and Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases–Western Visayas Chapter also provided clinical guidance and technical support to help keep the city’s primary healthcare services aligned with current standards in pulmonary and infectious disease management./PN
