MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug. 11 --- The Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) has enlisted the help of Muslim religious leaders and scholars in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).
The agency formally unveiled a religious edict or Fatwa (Islamic ruling) on TB that was crafted in partnership with the Darul Iftah (House of Opinion), the association of Ulamas (Islamic scholars) in the country.
ARMM Health Secretary Kadil Sinolinding Jr., said the Fatwa is their “coordinative strategy to hasten the bringing of right information, diagnosis and attitude towards tuberculosis.”
The Fatwa encourages people suffering from symptoms of TB and those diagnosed with it to consult a doctor or any qualified health professionals and observe proper medication, citing certain Islamic injunctions and examples of Prophet Mohammad himself.
It is intended to be propagated with the help of the Ulamas and other Muslim religious leaders in their khutbah (sermons) especially during congregational prayer on Fridays.
He said the Fatwa and the keen support of the Ulamas would be very helpful in combating TB in the region.
Sinolinding said they recognize the strong influence of the Ulamas and other religious leaders. “Our people look up to them and tapping them in this campaign will merit trust among our Muslim constituents.”
Based on its data, ARMM’s health department has managed to bring down TB cases in the region by as much as 60 percent from 4,275 in 2011 to 1,700 in 2012.
Sinolinding said the fight against TB requires the support and active collaboration of stakeholders. (Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)
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