In an effort to bring tuberculosis (TB) screening closer to underserved communities, the Kabugao Rural Health Unit (RHU), in partnership with the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Department of Health – Cordillera (DOH-CAR), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and Rotary Club of Guiginto (RCG), rolled out a TB Health Caravan on March 14, 2025.
Held at the Kabugao RHU, the activity focused on early detection and diagnosis of TB in areas where access to healthcare remains limited. A total of 130 residents underwent chest X-ray screening, resulting in 73 identified presumptive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).
Health personnel collected 23 sputum samples on-site, with an additional 50 patients scheduled for follow-up testing to complete their diagnostic procedures as these steps are important for confirming TB and initiating treatment for those infected.
The health caravan is part of a larger campaign to combat TB by bringing medical services directly to isolated communities. In Kabugao, where terrain and distance often limit access to clinics and laboratories, such mobile efforts help close gaps in public health service delivery.
With patients now linked to the health system, further evaluations and treatment protocols will be implemented in the coming weeks. By Michelle Acantilado
