PUDTOL, Apayao – A total of 263 individuals underwent chest X-rays during a tuberculosis (TB) health caravan held in Mataguisi Gymnasium on April 3, as part of Apayao’s push to bring important screening services to the ground.
Spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in partnership with the Department of Health – Cordillera (DOH–CAR), the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and the Rotary Club of Guiginto (RCG), the event zeroed in on rural accessibility and rapid TB detection.
Of those screened, 27 individuals were flagged with presumptive PTB (pulmonary tuberculosis) and are now being referred for further diagnostics and care. Health workers also collected four sputum samples on-site, with 23 more lined up for follow-up. To support early detection of latent TB, 28 patients were also administered the Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) test.
Said caravan was a mobile platform for TB awareness. Volunteers and health officers engaged patients on-site and offered information on TB prevention, symptoms to watch, and the importance of treatment adherence.
With more caravans in the pipeline, the province is ramping up both its outreach and its resolve. Follow-ups for presumptive cases are already underway as the province sustains its campaign for early diagnosis, access to care, and TB-free communities. By Michelle Acantilado
