(L-R) Regional Local Health Support Division Chief Jimuel S. Cardenas, BSP Chief Financial Officer Dennis D. Vitug, Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco and Infectious Disease Unit Head Rheuel C. Bobis a Medical Officer IV leads the ceremonial cutting of ribbon during the turn-over of “Konsultayo Mobile Clinic” Van donated by the Philippine Business for Social Progress held at the DOH-Ilocos on November 5, 2023
THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region today formally received a Konsultayo mobile van clinic from the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) ACCESS TB Project to be used for the conduct of widespread screenings and diagnostics of TB cases in remote areas of the region.
The initiative is part of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, through its COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) program to intensify the country’s ongoing pandemic response, and support major interventions in achieving a better health system for the country.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco extended her utmost gratitude for the very important donation stating that the mobile chest x-ray van will complement the region’s TB caravan for screening high-risk groups and TB presumptive cases.
“We can now undertake a massive screening activity and achieve our goal which is to find and treat as many TB cases as possible. Only by seeking and treating these cases can we limit TB spread and achieve our vision of a TB-free Philippines.” she stated.
“With this mobile clinic, we can visit far-flung communities and GIDAs and provide the needed care to people in these communities,” she added.
The mobile van will provide free chest x-ray, specimen collection and transportation, Electrocardiogram (ECG), and other primary care services and will be visiting all the provinces and communities.
PBSP Chief Financial Officer Dennis D. Vitug said that the mobile clinic is equipped with diagnostic facilities and necessary tools to accurately detect TB cases. “It has an ultraviolet light installed, lined with hospital grade flooring to prevent the spread of infection, it also has a negative pressure and built-in with an artificial intelligence to immediately read probable result during initial screening.”
“Our commitment to health goes beyond providing mobile clinic and medical equipment, whatever a community needs with regards to health, PBSP will contribute the best way possible.”
According to the DOH Integrated TB Information System Report, Region 1 recorded a total of 18,512 TB cases from January 1, 2023 to December 4, 2023. This figure is higher compared to the same period last year with 17,349. Drug resistant TB cases are lower this year with 290 cases reported compared to 349 last year.
TB cases among children are higher for 2023 year with 1,824 compared to 1,448 in 2022.
The province with the highest incidence of TB cases recorded is Pangasinan with 11,949 followed by La Union with 3,226, Ilocos Sur – 2,181 and Ilocos Norte – 1,156.
The regional office together with the local government units are continuously conducting active case finding, including monitoring of TB patients to ensure that they take their medicines regularly.
The TB-DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) is still the most effective strategy available for the management and control of TB cases.
DOTS is free for TB patients and it is available in hospitals and clinics accredited by the DOH for the treatment of tuberculosis.
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