Sarangani forms coalition against TB

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 28, 2009) – Local governments here together with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and local partners have formed a coalition to fight tuberculosis in celebration of World TB Day.

“We should celebrate by the way we are able to address the disease,” USAID health chief Dr. Aye Aye Thwin said during an earlier event Friday (March 27) in Malapatan town.

In Alabel, officials of the Coalition Against TB in Sarangani were sworn to duty by Governor Migs Dominguez.

Community volunteers and members of TB LINC (Linking Initiatives and Networking to Control Tuberculosis) attended the celebration in both towns.

“Nothing is impossible when we work together,” Governor Dominguez told volunteers and partners.

“The solution to our problem is government and community working together and providing adequate education and health for everyone. I thank the USAID for opening us the window for these opportunities,” the governor added.

“Actions are needed to counter TB and the community needs our support,” Thwin said.

Alcantara Foundation (AF) executive director Cecile Dominguez noted Malapatan to be the first municipality in the province to pass an ordinance for TB control. In Alabel, a TB control resolution is on its final reading.

AF is USAID’s local partner in the fight against TB.

According to the provincial health office, Alabel has 70% case detection (of TB) rate and has 85% cure rate. Malapatan has 68% case detection rate and 98% cure rate in the past three years.

Alabel now has a TB Microscopy Center.

Both towns have allocated a special fund of P100,000 each this year for TB control.

Community volunteers under TB LINC reach out to far-flung communities to detect cases of TB. Malapatan has 84 TB LINC volunteers.

“By now, we have low detection rate but we have addressed almost all the cases of TB in our community,” Malapatan municipal health officer Deomides Remitar said. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)