• CHERYL G. CRUZ
An ordinance strengthening tuberculosis elimination efforts in Bacolod City hurdled second and third reading Feb. 21, as the Sangguniang Panlungsod was informed of a “very alarming” increase in the number of patients since last month.
Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, who authored the ordinance, told his colleagues during their regular session Wednesday that based on health card renewals/applications with the City Health Office, there were about 580 TB patients in the first two months of 2024.
The number is no longer normal, Puentevella, chairperson of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation, stressed, adding that last year, there were 3,265 TB patients.
Councilor Em Ang said that the increase could be attributed to reports reaching her on the lack of medicines for tuberculosis for a number of months. “The cure for TB should be consistent and has to be ongoing for not less than six months.”
Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs, but is treatable and can be controlled.
But in the ordinance approved on suspended rules, Puentevella said the level of awareness of Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) is low and persisting…(so) there is an urgent need to re-tool the health workers of Bacolod on the PMDT as an integrated activity in the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTSC) facility.
TB remains a major public health concern in the country and in Bacolod, where the estimated missing TB cases for 2017 stood at about 1,323…despite the percentage accomplishment of identified TB patients completing treatment at 95 percent.
Puentevella said the family members of TB patients also play a big role in their care and support, and in controlling the spread of infection. “The hesitancy on the part of the family members…is mainly influenced by stigma and financial constraints, like travel expenses, food, and board and lodging allowances, especially for those residing in far-flung barangays where access to the needed health services is difficult…”
He added that the two-way referral system must be strengthened among the network of healthcare service providers for case finding, consultation, diagnosis completed proper treatment, including the mandatory reporting of patients with TB to the National Tuberculosis Control Program.
The Tuberculosis-Free City of Bacolod ordinance also seeks to strengthen the involvement of barangay officials and community volunteers in TB eradication efforts, establishment of a “Bantay TB sa Barangay”, a written agreement from a patient’s family members on adherence to the prescribed and agreed treatment plan, mandatory recording and reporting of TB cases in the public and private sectors, and sufficient fund allocation, among others. | CGC
