DOH leads the conduct of the 2023 Race to End TB Awards. (Photo courtesy: Department of Health) 

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) annually gives recognition to the top performing regions, provinces, city governments, municipalities, and health facilities in the fight against tuberculosis through the “Race to End TB Awards.”  

The said initiative aims to improve TB screening, testing, treatment, and prevention in line with Republic Act No. 10767 or the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Plan Act which primarily mandates all public and private health facilities in the country to adhere with the national protocol on TB management. 

This 2023, Navotas City is one of the local government units that received the Silver Award for TB Treatment Coverage Rate which had reached 93.9 percent in 2022.

Navotas Vice Mayor Tito Sanchez receives the Silver Award for the city government's TB Treatment Coverage Rate during the Race to End TB Annual Awards. (Photo Courtesy: Radyo Pilipinas)

In this regard, Mayor John Rey Tiangco highlighted the efforts of local health frontline workers in ensuring the accessibility of medical services that are anchored on the treatment and prevention of the disease, particularly the Directly Observed Therapy for the Treatment of Tuberculosis (TB-DOTS) program which can be availed in five (5) out of the eleven (11) health centers in the city. 

“We also call on each Navoteño to join the fight against TB. This disease is contagious, but curable. Patients can avail of its treatment for free at our accredited TB-DOTS centers,” said Tiangco.

The local government also noted the provision of livelihood assistance among tuberculosis patients who completed the 6 to 8 months duration of treatment as part of its TB control initiatives. 

In 2022, a total of 583 TB patients in Navotas were able to receive financial aid amounting to P3,000.

Meanwhile, the city government of Malabon likewise obtained a Gold Award for its Treatment Coverage Rate and a Silver Award for the Treatment Success Rate of drug resistant TB.

Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval receives the Gold Award for the city government's TB Treatment Coverage Rate and the Silver Award for Treatment Success Rate of drug resistant TB during the Race to End TB Annual Awards. (Photo Courtesy: Mayor Jeannie Sandoval)

“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga departamento, partikular ang City Health Department, ang ating mga doctor, nurses at iba pang mga healthcare workers na ating katuwang sa pagpapaigting ng kampanya laban sa pagkalat ng TB sa ating lungsod (Thank you very much to all the departments, particularly the City Health Department, our doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who are one with our joint campaign towards curbing the spread of TB in our city),” said City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval who personally received the awards. 

Accordingly, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stressed the commitment of the department to provide integrated packages and implement targeted interventions to alleviate the incidence of TB among Filipinos. 

"Early detection of TB is crucial, but is not enough. Everyone who needs treatment must receive it promptly and consistently. The fight against TB requires our unwavering commitment, collective effort, and solidarity. It is time to come together and declare a united stand to end TB in the Philippines dahil sa Healthy Pilipinas bawat buhay mahalaga," Herbosa said.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2023 to 2028 anchors the decreased prevalence of communicable diseases, especially TB, as one of the indicators to achieve overall health development. (PIA-NCR)