AS PART of its campaign on “Tuberculosis in the Workplace,” U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) TB Innovations and Health Systems Project (TBIHSS), together with Nippon Paint, a Japanese paint and paint products manufacturing company, recently held a one-day webinar on tuberculosis for its employees at Nippon Paint’s Cabuyao, Laguna office, on February 8, 2023.
Titled “Painting the Future of Healthy Pilipinas” the event discussed the basic information about tuberculosis (TB) and dispelled common misconceptions about this condition. More than a hundred employees attended the event—around 60 onsite and the rest, online.
In his message, John Acener Padua, FHI360 business development and private sector engagement specialist, emphasized that it is very important for workers working in high-risk industries to know that there is a cure for TB and that it is free.
“Because they fear that TB medications are expensive, in our study, we learned that 41 percent of those with symptoms of TB self-medicate while 40 percent did nothing at all,” he said. “Only 18 percent went to the health clinic for a check-up.”
He added, “It is our hope that with webinars such as this, we can lower the percentage of those self-medicating and those doing nothing and instead, go to the health clinic for consultation.”
Dr. Jeremiah Calderon, FHI360 Policy Development Specialist, also stressed the importance that one shouldn’t be ashamed of having TB. At the same time, people shouldn’t shame others who have this condition.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed when you have TB because as has been said, this condition is curable,” he said. “The most important thing is not to self-medicate, but to religiously follow all advice by your doctor.”
Two of the attendees, Rex Sabilano, who is now on his sixth month of medications in his treatment of TB, and Alex Gesmundo, who doesn’t have the condition, emphasized how much they have learned from the talks.
“Although I have attended seminars like this before, I still learn something new,” said Sabilano. “Attending this is my way of sharing to others that TB is curable, and that stigma and discrimination should stop.”
“I’ve learned that TB doesn’t just affect the lungs but other parts of the body too, such as the bones and the brain,” said Gesmundo. “I also learned how to prevent myself from becoming infected.”
Every year, millions of people get sick from and die from TB, which is still one of the most common infectious illnesses. The good news is that this condition can be cured and webinars like this are conducted to those working in high-risk industries. This helps spread more awareness on how people can arm themselves and their families against TB, as well as fight against misconceptions.
For more information about TB, visit https://healthylungs.ph/. This includes an online self-assessment tool to help with TB identification and treatment. It may also be used to check for suspected TB and locate the nearest health facility. #ParaHealthyLungsKonstulTayo.
The website, https://healthylungs.ph/, is part of the Department of Health’s local communication campaign, Para Healthy Lungs, KonsulTayo, which is supported by USAID's TB Innovations and Health Systems Project. It aims to raise Tuberculosis as a public health priority in the country using social and conventional media methods. (SPONSORED CONTENT)