The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) is hoping that misconceptions concerning Tuberculosis disease will be eliminated to avoid lowering the patients’ self-esteem.
Evelyn Uy-Gelito, National Tuberculosis Program and National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLCP) nurse coordinator of DOH 11, said on Monday that correcting the misconceptions about TB is among the goals of this year’s commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2023.
“There are still a lot of people who don’t know what TB is all about. There are still a lot of misconceptions about TB and this is the time that we will correct these misconceptions,” she said during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.
Gelito cited that separating the utensils of people with TB and isolating them to avoid getting infected is misconceptions because TB is an airborne disease. She said family members of TB patients can come close and can even hug them.
She said the most important thing is the patient undergoes treatment and takes the medicine every day for six months for those who are affected with ordinary TB and nine or more for those affected with drug resistant variant.
“There is no need na hiwalayin ang kanilang utensils or ipalayo kay basin matakdan because TB is an airborne disease. Rememebr isa lang ang atong ginhawaan na hangin, if malanghap nimo tong hangin nga naay bacteria of TB that is the time na magkaroon ka ug TB but it doesn’t mean nga magka TB dayon ka puwede pud na how strong ang inyong immune system. No need na ihiwalay during the course of treatment ang utensils nila. Sa TB program kung naay isa sa member sa family nga naay TB i-avoid nato nang i-low ang self-esteem sama sa pagpalayo, puwede ka mag hug,” she said.
World Tuberculosis Day is a day to pay attention to people affected by TB. Following the annual celebration of World TB Day every March 24, it aims to inform the people of the methods to prevent this disease and strengthen people to cooperate in the fight against the said disease.
In line with this, DOH 11 will be holding an awareness campaign on March 23, 2023, at SM City Ecoland, Davao City. The CallKaLungs Hotlines will also be launched at the same time to provide accurate answers about TB.
