CONNER, Apayao – Following its conformity to the requirements of quality TB DOTS services, Conner District Hospital (CDH) has been certified by the Department of Health-Philippine Cancer Control Program (DOH-PCCP) as TB Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) facility since 2023.
This certification conferred is a regulation service which implies that clients and the public are assured of the facility’s capacity to deliver efficient DOTS services.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) revealed that, in the past three years, Apayao has a record of 220% case notification rate in 2021, 272% in 2022, and 351.88% which was equivalent to 451 total cases detected both through bacteriology confirmed and clinically diagnosed. Despite this alarming concern, PHO confirmed a 90-91 percent treatment success rate for said disease for the previous years.
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by bacterial infection affecting the lungs. This can be transmitted through the saliva of the infected usually when coughing, sneezing, laughing, singing, and spitting.
Based on surveys, this remains the second leading infectious killer after Covid-19 that imposes health crises around the globe and threatens public health. However, this is preventable and curable.
CDH assured the public that its TB DOTS center continues its mission to help the implementation of standard measures including screening, diagnosis, and treatment adherence for diagnosed patients.
Meanwhile, PHO expressed its intention to increase this year’s case detection rate by 10% or more than previous years, while maintaining a 90% or higher success rate.
Public officials are also urged to execute programs and activities aimed at eradicating TB cases and declaring the province TB-free. By J. Dela Torre
