Friday, October 17, 2008 Kamputhaw forms task force vs. TB
TUBERCULOSIS (TB) is an infectious disease that carries bacteria spread into the air.
With that, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City’s Tuberculosis Task Force was formed to help detect residents with symptoms of TB and help them fight this disease.
The task force was formed to implement the Social Mobilization of Tuberculosis (SMT) Project, one of the health projects of World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. that promotes community development.
Coalition
This is in cooperation with the Department of Health, Tropical Disease Foundation, Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis, Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria and the Cebu City Government.
The project has been present for three years now in Barangays Tisa, Labangon, Guadalupe and Bulacao.
The volunteers of the SMT have undergone four days of rigid training.
Barangay Kamputhaw started with 11 volunteers. Today, only one remains. She is Fe P. Catubig, the project secretary.
“I felt lazy because we haven’t been paid. But if I leave the task force, who will continue the project?” she said.
About 180 cases were reported to have symptoms of TB in the village. Around 10 of these were found positive of TB. Purok 3 Lower and Purok 8 have the most number of reported cases. Most of them are males and some are teenagers.
The task force volunteers encourage these patients to regularly visit the barangay health center to take their medicine. The patients are not allowed to take home their medicines because they might not follow their medication. Their families are also informed that the patient should be monitored and reminded that they have to take their medicine at the health center.
“It takes will and discipline for the patient to follow their medication. We are helping them but they also need to help themselves,” Catubig said. (Joan N. Balang, UP Masscom)
