ILOILO CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) said that the agency is strengthening its partnership with civil society to make a strong call to action for access to preventive treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
Christine Mosqueda, DOH WV CHD regional TB nurse coordinator, said that the World Health Organization, civil society, and other partners are joining forces to make a strong call to action for access to TB preventive treatment to those in need.
“For this to happen, the government, civil society, and partners need to work together on key actions,” she said.
Mosqueda said there is a need to strengthen TB case finding in household contacts of all ages and other high-risk groups, such as residents of informal settlements, to accelerate progress, in synergy with efforts for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation.
“We need to embrace and increase access to WHO recommended diagnostic technologies such as digital radiography, computer-aided detection software, molecular rapid diagnostic tests and tests of TB infection,” she said.
She said it is imperative to rapid reinforce program capacity to ensure affordable access to WHO-recommended shorter TB preventive treatment regimens for people of all ages.
Likewise, it is also recommended to apply successful strategies being used in the large-scale roll out of TB preventive treatment among people living with HIV to increase coverage for all populations in need.
She added that another key action is to launch a large-scale communication and advocacy campaign to create demand for TB preventive treatment, and to enhance its acceptability among those who need it as well as healthcare providers. (JBG/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)