THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region awarded local government units and health facilities for the 2024 “Race to End TB Regional Annual Awards” for their efforts in implementing tuberculosis (TB) treatment services held at the conference room of the regional office in San Fernando City, La Union.
The winners were awarded based on the six Tuberculosis outcome indicators namely population screening rate, population testing rate case detection rate, TB preventive treatment enrolment rate, treatment success rate and best IDOTS coordinating center (ICC) implementer of the year.
Three categories gold, silver and bronze with corresponding monetary prizes were given to awardees.
Regional Director Paulas Paz M. Sydiongco extended her gratitude to the awardees for their commitment and dedication to end and achieve a TB-free community in their respective communities.
“We have achieved 97 percent success rate in tuberculosis (TB) treatment across the region’s four provinces with Ilocos Sur having the highest treatment success rate of 97.23 percent, followed by Pangasinan, 93.10 percent; La Union, 92.40 percent; and Ilocos Norte, 91.93 percent. And this is a collective effort. Lahat ay nagtrabaho mula sa ating BHWs, Municipal health officers, at mga mayors at governors upang ito ay marating natin sa ating laban sa sakit na TB.” she stressed.
“And with this, we can definitely say, “Yes, We Can Eliminate TB in Region 1,” she exclaimed.
Ilocos region achieved a 50.17% for population screening rate; for population testing rate – 45.12%; case detection rate – 94.38%; TB preventive treatment rate – 26.54%; treatment success rate – 93.69%.
Among the winners for the Best TB Implementers in region 1 were the rural health units of Bantay in Ilocos Sur, Dasol and Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan; city health offices of Alaminos and Dagupan; Urdaneta District Hospital, Region 1 Medical Center and Pangasinan Provincial Hospital.
The provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur also received awards for their valuable contribution in TB treatment and prevention, screening and testing and case detection rate.
Regional Communicable Disease Prevention Unit Head, Dr. Rheuel C. Bobis, said that the regional office continues to provide TB commodities to local government units to strengthen active case-finding activities.
“Plans are also underway to expand TB diagnostic laboratories in every province to improve detection and treatment. We will also intensify screening activities to seek those missed individuals,” Bobis assured.
DOH together with LGUs of region 1 continue to conduct early testing, treatment, and assessment through its mobile screening clinic to stop the spread of TB in the community.
The 2024 TB Regional Awards with the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”, recognizes provinces, municipalities, health facilities significant contributions to the TB response program.
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