DOH alarmed by high number of TB cases

THE Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (Philcat) on Monday expressed alarm over the high number of tuberculosis cases in the Philippines.

Dr. Rosalind Viazon of the DOH said that the Philippines should exert more effort to control tuberculosis.

“TB cases are really alarming and we need to do something about it,” she said, adding that there are 133 cases per 100,000 population. The DOH recorded 150,000 TB cases in 2010.

She revealed that at least 75 to 90 people die because of tuberculosis every day in the Philippines.

“In fact the Philippines ranked ninth among the 22 high-burden countries for TB worldwide,” she told a press conference held in observance of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24.

Viazon said malnutrition, overcrowding, lack of hygiene, type-1 diabetes and HIV were the biggest risk factors in having TB, one of the top causes of mortality among Filipinos.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs.

Dr. Cleotilde How, board member of Philcat said that people can avoid tuberculosis by maintaining proper hygiene. Philcat is composed of various companies and non-government organizations such as the United Laboratories bent on helping the government in its drive to control the spread of TB.

“TB is a preventable and curable infectious disease that has not been given the attention it deserves,” she said.

How said that to avoid this deadly disease the public is advised to prevent exposure to infection, avoid overcrowded places, perform proper hygiene such as regular hand washing and go to health center for testing if coughing persists for two weeks or more.

“We have to act together and pool our efforts in a targeted manner—from the private and public sectors—for this all out war against TB,” she said. –JOVEE NARIE N. DELA CRUZ REPORTER, Manila Times