𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐔𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐇𝐎
The Cebu Provincial Government on Monday welcomed the World Health Organization Philippines (WHO) to a meeting for a joint effort to ramp up tuberculosis (TB) testing and detection in the province.
Led by WHO Philippines’ Dr. Clarissa Dayrit-Halum, the delegation met with Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan to assess current strategies and introduce new measures to curb the disease.
TB remains a major public health challenge in the Philippines, a high-burden country with an estimated incidence rate exceeding 625 cases per 100,000 population. Around 98 Filipinos die from the preventable and curable disease every day.
“Early diagnosis is paramount, as it leads to higher cure rates, prevents silent transmission within families and communities, and reduces severe illness and TB-related deaths,” Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan said following the meeting with WHO representatives.
According to Dr. Catalan, robust testing also helps detect drug-resistant strains and protects vulnerable groups, including healthcare workers.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀
To close detection gaps, Cebu Province and the WHO outlined key strategies:
· Expand diagnostic capacity and laboratory services.
· Integrate TB screening into routine primary and hospital care.
· Conduct targeted screening for high-risk populations.
· Strengthen referral systems for immediate treatment initiation.
“TB is preventable, treatable, and curable when detected early,” Dr. Catalan said. “Strengthening testing is a vital step toward protecting the health of every Cebuano.”
She expressed gratitude to Dr. Halum and the WHO team for their partnership and for prioritizing Cebu in the global fight to end tuberculosis.
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