FLORA, Apayao – The Apayao Provincial Health Office (PHO) spearheaded a Tuberculosis (TB) Health Plus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) detection initiative in Sta. Maria, Flora last October 23, 2023 as part of the nationwide campaign to identify and eliminate all forms of TB and detect HIV cases.
This outreach program targets 200 individuals per municipality in the province, employing symptom screening and chest X-rays to detect overlooked TB and HIV cases in vulnerable/high-risk populations or groups. The on-site same-day diagnosis is especially crucial for both adults and children capable of producing sputum.
The strategy aligns with the 2014 Department of Health National Tuberculosis Control Program Manual of Operations recommending active case finding to boost TB detection.
This approach involves community outreach to identify presumptive TB cases among vulnerable and high-risk groups who may not seek health facility consultation.
Vulnerable populations include those facing social barriers to accessing diagnostic and treatment services, while high-risk groups encompass close contacts of known TB cases, individuals with clinical conditions predisposing them to TB, or those residing in settings conducive to disease transmission.
Simultaneously, a healthy lifestyle seminar for elderlies of Flora was conducted at EKB Gymnasium in the same town as part of the celebration of Elderly Week. By Maureen L. Legazpi
The article says the event transpired on October 23…its still 20 today.