Davao city: A total of 1,376 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in various prison facilities in the Davao Region received free tuberculosis (TB) screening on Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) 11 (Davao) said.

According to Philippines News Agency, the event is part of the ongoing Active Case Finding (ACF), in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and coordinated by the provincial and city health offices.

The DOH National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) aims to eliminate TB by 2035, targeting a 95 percent reduction in mortality and a 90 percent reduction in incidence. This year, the DOH targets screening 12 million Filipinos, implementing shorter four-month treatment regimens, providing free TB services, and mandating TB notification for all health facilities.

Alongside Tuesday's observance of World TB Day, the DOH seeks to increase TB case detection in high-risk areas like prisons, where overcrowding and poor ventilation can facilitate rapid disease spread. DOH-11 stated that the PDLs underwent TB screening, risk assessment, chest X-ray, and sputum testing geared toward early detection of potential cases.

'Those confirmed to have TB were immediately started on treatment, while their close contacts were screened for possible TB preventive treatment,' the agency said. The activity was held at the Davao del Sur Provincial Rehabilitation Center, Davao City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Female Dormitory, Davao del Norte Tagum City Jail, Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL), Davao de Oro BJMP Montevista, and Davao Oriental Mati Provincial Jail.

'Through this activity, the DOH, in collaboration with local governments and partner agencies, continues to promote earlier detection and prompt treatment of TB to prevent its spread within and outside facilities,' the agency said.