DOH seeks to eliminate TB by 2022

A 2022 deadline was set for the elimination of tuberculosis by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial on the celebration of World TB Day in Quezon City.

Health Sec. Ubial says the new goal of PHL on #worldtuberculosisday is to turn TB into a rare disease, reduce cases to 1 per 10,000. pic.twitter.com/141XQrHw0G

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) March 24, 2017

"When you say TB elimination, it is to... really detect all the TB cases and to attain a prevalence rate of less than 10 per 100,000. From a really prevalent disease, it becomes a rare disease," Ubial explained on Friday.

Based on the World Health Organization website, Tuberculosis or TB is caused by a bacteria, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable.

The disease is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.

In order to achieve this, the 2017-2022 Philippine Strategic Tuberculosis Elimination Plan 1 (PhilSTEP 1) will be implemented that would include the government, private businesses, high-risk populations, and their families to participate in a unified action to curtail the spread of the disease.

One of the newest schemes the DOH is implementing to reduce TB cases is Genexpert, a method that detects the presence of TB bacteria in sputum in less than two hours.

As part of measures to stop the spread of the disease, patients with cough that has lasted more than two weeks should be tested. The Genexpert is available in public hospitals nationwide.

Early detection of the disease raises the chances of a quick recovery. So, patients with prolonged coughing fits are encouraged to have themselves tested.

Genexpert is expensive but the test will be administered for free for indigent patients.

"P1.2 billion ang total budget natin sa tuberculosis control program," Ubial said.

Treatment for pulmonary TB normally costs P4,500 for six months while Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) costs P200,000, which lasts for nine months to three years.

Due to the side-effects of TB medication, the DOH will continue to strengthen its TB DOTS or the Directly observed treatment, short-course program in which patients take their medicine in front of a partner to ensure they do not miss their medication.

"Merong partner yung isang pasyenteng may tuberculosis at araw-araw, binabantayan niya yung pasyente sa pag-inom (ng gamot)," Ubial said. "Maganda po ang naging resulta ng directly observed treatment, short-course sa pagbaba ng prevalence rate natin sa tuberculosis." 

"Pinapaintindi po natin na importanteng uminom ng gamot araw-araw... Wag po silang hihinto sa gamutan, tuloy-tuloy, dere-deretso, araw-araw iinom ng gamot. At libre naman po," she urged. 

The implementing rules of regulation for Republic Act No. 10767 or the “Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Plan Act” of 2016 is also in the works.

"It's under completion before signing," said Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing.

"At no expense on the part of the indigent. Napakaganda nito. In fact, this is a priority bill of the DOH. We are really pushing for this and we will work hard for this para ito ay mapasa ngayong 17th congress," she added.

Another measure taken to help eliminate TB is the creation of the Philippine TB Caucus on March 14, which will allow the formulation of policies to increase investments on TB control and sustainability.

Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT), currently under the leadership of Chairman Dr. Regina Berba, will provide technical support for the caucus, which will be headed by Quezon (4th District) Rep. Angelina Tan with Suansing and La Union (2nd District) Rep. Sandra Eriguel.

In the meantime, Ubial urged Filipinos to seek treatment and to tear down negative perceptions about TB patients to allow them a normal way of life.

Ubial urges Filipinos to get diagnosed; a cure is available to the public. #worldtuberculosisday pic.twitter.com/oW6H6WHgRW

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) March 24, 2017

According to the DOH, 294,907 or 85 percent of TB patients detected by the National TB Program are currently under treatment.

While the Philippines is one of the nine high-burdened countries that have successfully achieved three 2015 targets of the Millennium Development Goals, TB remains the eighth leading cause of illness and death in the country, according to the 2016 Philippine Health Statistics. — BAP, GMA News