Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa has urged medical professionals to detect more cases of tuberculosis (TB) following a “marching order” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reduce the number of TB cases in the country.
Herbosa also assured medical professionals that they will be provided with the necessary logistical support.
The new DOH chief visited the TB DOTS facility in Koronadal City on Thursday and was accompanied by Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) – Mindanao Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama, Jr.; DOH CHD SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Director Aristedes Tan; South Cotabato 2nd District Representative Cong. Peter Miguel; Koranadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena; and other local officials.
During the visit, Herbosa stated that as a clinician and a health professional, he understands the difficulty of reducing tuberculosis cases.
He also recommended using telemedicine to treat cases in place of TB DOTS so that patients wouldn’t have to leave their homes.
Herbosa also called on health personnel to work with local authorities to follow up on patients who missed follow-up appointments or didn’t finish their medication because they would later develop multi-drug resistance.
Local government officials of Koronadal City gave the guarantee to Herbosa that they will further strengthen actions to reduce new cases.