Likewise, it could happen in months or years after getting the bacteria.
Tuberculosis in the Philippines, An Overview
Before we move on to the discussion about the tuberculosis treatment in the Philippines, let’s first talk about TB statistics.
Currently, about 1 million Filipinos have active tuberculosis disease. Reports say that we have the 3rd highest prevalence rate in the world, next to South Africa and Lesotho. More concerning is the fact that about 70 Filipinos die every day because of TB, even though it’s a highly curable condition.
The World Health Organization (WHO) targets to end tuberculosis on the planet by 2030. But in the Philippines, the cases go up annually. This makes it all the more important to strengthen the tuberculosis treatment in the Philippines.
Tuberculosis Treatment in the Philippines
Our country is compliant with the WHO-prescribed TB treatment, DOTS.
DOTS stands for Directly-observed Therapy Short-course and is an effective way to “break the cycle of transmission”. Below are the components of the program:
Patients need to receive several medications
In treating an active tuberculosis disease, patients need to receive a combination of medications. The first line drugs are rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. Fixed dose combination (FDC) is available and the one most commonly prescribed.
A person who has an active TB disease might need to take a break from work or school for at least two weeks to receive their medications. After that period, their symptoms will improve and the doctor may give clearance after the assessment.
However, to completely clear the tuberculosis disease and infection, they need to complete the short-course treatment for 6 months at least.
A healthcare worker will observe when the patient takes their medicines
The highlight of TB DOTS in the Philippines is this: Someone from the health-sector has to observe the patient when they take their medications.
The reason why the program is “directly-observed” is because a healthcare worker needs to witness that the patient has indeed taken the drugs. Being directly-observed by a healthcare worker has several advantages, namely:
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