The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday rolled out a nationwide case-finding drive across 29 provinces nationwide to mark National Lung Month and National Tuberculosis (TB) Day.
The program was designed to identify tuberculosis cases early, provide confirmatory tests, and immediately enroll patients in treatment.
“We will no longer wait for patients to come to us; we will be the ones to go out to them,” DOH Undersecretary for Universal Health Care – Health Services Cluster Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral said.
Free chest X-ray services were offered to screen residents for possible signs of the disease, while sputum samples were collected from those flagged during the screenings to confirm infections in laboratories.
Individuals who tested positive for tuberculosis were then enrolled in government treatment programs at no cost.
According to DOH data, the Philippines records 643 TB cases per 100,000 people, one of the highest incidence rates in the region. Central Visayas alone reported 33,511 cases in 2024, including those from Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
The health drive emphasized reaching vulnerable groups such as people living with HIV and diabetes, who face higher risks of complications.
