Mindanaotoday.com | Camiguin LGU offers free chest x-ray, HIV screening to 5 towns
By: Recthie Paculba
SAGAY, Camiguin – Taking part in World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the provincial government here holds a one-week TB and HIV Caravan, March 13-17, in the five towns of the province, starting at Sagay.
In partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Maranao People Development Center, Inc. (MARADECA), there were 120 who availed themselves of the chest x-ray, health check-up (10), and HIV screening (15) in Sagay town.
“For HIV, this is really it since there is no cure, early detection is very important. So get screened for HIV, and people should also have the chest x-ray in our TB program, especially those who are in contact with those who have TB, so they can see if they feel something in their body,” said Ruena Shane Salcedo, provincial TB and HIV program coordinator.
Salcedo also said that they always back the program, pointing out that HIV is spreading more and more. So, she told people who have more than one sexual partner or who have unsafe sex to take advantage of the free HIV testing.
Based on the epidemiology bureau of the DOH, there are 34 HIV-positive cases tagged in Camiguin in the whole country, but some of these are working outside the province, Salcedo said. But, according to their records at the Provincial Health Office, they have only personally tested or screened seven HIV-positive people in Camiguin.
“Sa chest x-ray, importante gihapon mao nang gi-collaborate namo ang HIV ug TB kay ang mga 80-90% sa TB patients or sa Philippines gyud is na’y HIV. So ang mga HIV patients, man gud ubos ilang immune system, so dali sila matakdan sa TB,” Salcedo added.
(Chest x-rays are still important; that’s why we collaborated on HIV and TB because about 80–90% of TB patients in the Philippines actually have HIV. Since HIV patients also have a low immune system, they are easily infected with TB)
MARADECA targets 200–300 individuals for the free chest x-ray, prioritizing senior citizens and those who are in contact with TB patients. This is also to boost the Access TB program.
For his part, Sagay Mayor Richard Uayan urged the residents of the town to avail of the free services, citing that since the province is a tourist destination, people will most likely be exposed to HIV.
The caravan will also be held in Mambajao (March 14), Mahinog (March 15), Catarman (March 16), and Guinsiliban (March 17). (RTP | PIA-10 | Camiguin)
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