Abra observes TB Day

BUCAY, Abra, March 30 (PIA) - -The World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was observed in the province with the advocacy dubbed as Caravan Health Plus here.

Virginia Lalin, provincial coordinator of the TB Control Program, in partnership with the Bucay Rural Health Unit, led the observance with activities anchored on the theme, "It's time: End TB."

The Caravan Health Plus involved TB and other health programs such as the Kilatis Kutis under the coordinatorship of Dr. Lilibeth Martin. Free X-Ray was also provided to the inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, senior citizens and other community folks in Bucay. 

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious and fatal disease, but it can be prevented and cured, Lalin stressed as she   shared important points in TB prevention and cure.

Lalin recommended that TB patients observe the "Ubokobularyo" practice or covering the mouth with handkerchief or facetowel when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of bacteria to those they are closely in contact with. Once microbes are exposed, these are suspended in the air. 

While TB is a fatal disease, this could be cured and prevented if proper hygiene and healthy lifestyle is observed.

She advised that if  a person  observes  some of the symptoms like fatigue, sweating at night, weight loss, pain in joints and  bones, stiff neck, pain in the other body parts such as the brain and the intestines, it is best consult a doctor to  have a thorough diagnostic of  the  health condition.

TB can be prevented through healthy lifestyle. It is also curable with the right regiment following the fixed dose treatment within a 6-month period. 

Lalin said the patient should religiously take the fix dose treatment within the first two months intensive phase and the next four months as maintenance. Otherwise, the patient will develop drug resistance. Once a patient stops medication within the prescribed period and becomes drug -resistant, it will become very difficult to treat the disease as the case turns into a Multi-Drug Resistant. The treatment is prolonged to nine months and could even extend to two years and will even affect other organs of the body.   When this happens, treatment becomes more costly.

She reiterated the advise for everyone to observe proper hygiene and healthy lifestyle. (JDP/MTBB - PIA CAR, Abra)

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