MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Apr 5 (PIA) --- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is intensifying its partnership with local government units (LGUs) here towards the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in the entire province.
Just recently, the IPHO commemorated World TB Day in Barangay Cawayan, Marantao town where the LGU officials and barangay chairpersons joined in the celebration and pledged to support the campaign that will eradicate this most-dreaded disease.
Dr. Alinader Minalang, IPHO Chief said that the objectives of having a detection rate of at least 70 percent and cure rate of at least 85 percent can be achieved and sustained through the collaborative efforts of all agencies concerned including local officials.
He said the province has superseded the targeted cure rate, however, the detection rate remained below the set target.
With this, he encouraged all LGUs in the province to support the program by means of issuing policies and budget for the activities,especially on case finding and treatment.
Minalang also said that during the celebration, emphasis was put on the five (5) elements of the Directly-Observed Treatment Short Course Strategy (DOTS) that needs to be fulfilled to detect and cure TB patients.
These elements, he said, are political commitment, supervised treatment by a treatment partner, availability of anti-TB drugs, availability of laboratory supplies and standardized recording and reporting system of TB data.
The highlight of the celebration according to Minalang was the conduct of a marathon participated in by students reflecting the momentum and the youth moving forward with intensity in fighting the deadly disease.
He said the marathon was in line with the nationwide theme of “Isulong ang Laban sa TB: Malusog na Kabataan, Pag-asa ng Bayan” which also complemented the global theme of “On the Move Against TB: Transforming the Fight Towards Elimination.”
World TB Day is observed every March 24 to raise awareness on tuberculosis which remains a global epidemic. It commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the MycobacteriumTuberculosis as the cause of the disease. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA-10)
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