Ilocos Region: The Department of Health (DOH) 1 (Ilocos Region) has reported a 90 percent to 97 percent success rate in tuberculosis (TB) treatment across the region’s four provinces.
According to Philippines News Agency, Regional Communicable Disease Prevention Unit Head, Dr. Rheuel Bobis, highlighted that Ilocos Sur achieved the highest treatment success rate at 97.23 percent, followed by Pangasinan at 93.10 percent, La Union at 92.40 percent, and Ilocos Norte at 91.93 percent. Dr. Bobis mentioned during a phone interview that the DOH is actively procuring TB commodities at the local government unit level, while also strengthening active case-finding initiatives.
Dr. Bobis acknowledged the financial backing from the Philippine Business for Social Progress, which has facilitated the enhancement of active case-finding activities. The DOH is also in the process of expanding TB diagnostic laboratories throughout the region to boost detection and treatment efforts.
DOH-1 has set targets to screen at least 17 percent of the region’s total population, diagnose 4 percent of the population, and treat patients through patient-centered care. The department is also focused on prevention by adopting shorter TB preventive treatments. Dr. Bobis emphasized the importance of early testing, treatment, and community efforts to halt the spread of TB, implementing mobile screening, chest X-ray screenings, and utilizing the Integrated Tuberculosis Information System (ITIS) for case reporting and tracking.
Dr. Bobis stressed the necessity for all family members and individuals in contact with TB patients to undergo screening to ensure they are not infected. DOH-1 data revealed 1,738 cases detected in Ilocos Sur, 3,139 in Ilocos Norte, 4,103 in La Union, and 14,525 in Pangasinan in 2024. Additionally, there are 2,819 notified TB cases in the region from January 1 to February 28.
DOH-1 Director Paula Paz Sydiongco reiterated in a statement that TB is curable and that treatment and medicines, which are both safe and free, are available to prevent the disease’s spread.
