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Friday, March 29, 2024

Bulacan starts TB screening of inmates

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The provincial government of Bulacan, through the Provincial Public Health Office, on Friday kicked off its tuberculosis (TB) mass screening at the Bulacan Provincial Jail here.

The screening was in line with the observance of Lung Month this August.

In partnership with the Department of Health-Regional Office 3, USAID-IMPACT project, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the mass screening that will cater to more than 3,000 detainees, jail guards and staff will run for eight weeks.

The project aims to improve case detection of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB cases and ensure that they are successfully treated in recognition that places of incarceration harbor TB that if left untreated, threatens not only the inmates but also the prison staff, visitors and the larger community.

Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando explained to the detainees that their health was as important as the well-being of people outside jail.

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“Your health is important to us. This is being given for free by various government agencies,” Fernando said.

Dr. Allan Fabella, service delivery specialist of the USAID-IMPACT, said the detainees will be interviewed about symptoms, they will be x-rayed, their sputum will be examined under the Gene Xpert strategy and, if positive, another interview and orientation on the medication will be conducted and finally the medication itself will be administered.

Meanwhile, retired Police Sr. Supt. Fernando Villanueva, jail warden of BPJ, said there are 43 TB patients and one MDR patient at the Bulacan Provincial Jail that are under medication. 

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