Several mayors, lawmakers, and health officials in Negros Oriental are converging in Dumaguete today to intensify campaign against tuberculosis and launch the TB Sugpuin, Sama-sama Kayang-Kaya program.
The meeting, headed by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Negros Oriental chapter, aims to ensure local chief executives’ support and commitment to work for the passage and implementation of ordinances that will improve TB program services and financing.
Mayor Reynaldo Tuanda, chapter president, said he hopes this can provide deeper understanding on TB particularly its magnitude and impact in their respective localities.
It is also hoped that the mayors and their health personnel will commit to support and sustain existing initiatives such as: provision of annual funding, capacity-building of all concerned key players, ensure DOTS accreditation, strengthen convergence of all stakeholders, among others, Tuanda said.
Gracing the occasion today are Gov. Roel Degamo; Vice Gov. Apolinario Arnaiz, Jr; Dir. Susana Mandarieta, DOH regional director; Dr. Edgardo Barredo, provincial health officer, Board Members, city and municipal health officers, mayors, and SB members.
For his part, Gov. Degamo admitted he was saddened because in spite of all our efforts to totally eliminate the in the Province, there are still quite a number of TB symptomatics in Negros Oriental who are not provided with the necessary health care interventions.
He is hoping, however, that the strong participation of the local government units will provide the final solution towards achieving the goal of zero TB cases in Negros Oriental.
“As the man at the helm of the Provincial leadership– I would like to assure everyone that I will continue to work and cooperate with any person, group or institution– because health is one of my top priorities under my program of government,” the Governor said.
The LMP has already achieved major milestones with its LGU-initiated TB control program dubbed as TB Sugpuin, Sama-sama, Kayang-kaya program.
To date, the TB program has been cascaded in 16 of the 18 priority provinces in the country through an approved LMP resolution pushing for the implementation of the TB Control Program. with reports from (PIA NegOr/JCT)