Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug 12 (PIA) – Bohol tuberculosis (TB) council urges communities to join in seeking out and referring persons suspected of having tuberculosis can Bohol get to its vision of becoming TB free.
Coughing a battle cry called “TB Atong Masumpo kon Lihok Tanan” (TAMBLOT) Bohol health authorities said barangay health workers, tanods, officials and purok leaders communities can actually help in referral of persons who may be having two-week old cough to test for the disease.
“This is the only way we can get through to our people and get those who may have caught the disease and are yet too traumatized to come out,” says Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, MD.
Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA commemorating August as Lung Month, Lopez assured that the disease is curable when properly managed.
Dr. Lopez who sits as Provincial Council Against Tuberculosis (PROCAT) Vice Chair also explained that tuberculosis can be transmitted by inhalation of tuberculosis bacteria from an infected person who coughs or sneezes.
“A bacteria does not survive in open areas especially when exposed to the sun. Sharing of eating utensils, unlike old myths is fairly safe therefore,” another medical practitioner Dr. Greg Sodusta adds.
It’s a fairly strong bacteria that about three kinds of medicines are used to continuously treat the patient for six months, he said.
TB affects mostly those people who have lowered resistance brought about by other diseases, fatigue and those who may not be able to get the right nutrition, explains Dr. Lopez at the forum aired live at DyTR AM.
Indications of the disease include coughing especially those that remain until about two weeks, chest pains, back pains, loss of appetite and until it complicates into other ailments, adds Emily Recentes, medical technologist.
While it can be treated, the disease still ranks sixth among the most deadly diseases in the country, assistant provincial health officer Dr. Sodusta also revealed.
Asked why is that, he hinted that the information campaign still could not get through the old myths about TB, and it has stopped many from getting to the closest health facility for proper treatment.
People then used to treat TB patients with derision, ascribing a highly contagious character of the disease and so many would rather hide their patients than help them treat it.
We have over 90% TB cure rating, but we only have a little over 60% case finding percentage that we need to get to them so they can be cured, Lopez stressed. (30)
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