THE first drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) treatment facility opened in Lamitan City, Basilan, last week, the first of its kind that makes Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) services accessible in the area, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) said.

In a statement, PBSP said the facility is the first satellite treatment center (STC) in Basilan province. It was formally opened on September 29.

“The STC will be very helpful to the constituents of Lamitan City and neighboring towns. Before, treatment for drug-resistant TB is in Zamboanga; now, services are more convenient and more accessible to the patients,” Vicente Yu, health officer of Lamitan, said.

Drug-resistant TB is a type of tuberculosis that does not respond to the first line of drugs, such as isoniazid and rifampicin, against TB. It is still curable with 18 months of daily treatment by a health worker in PMDT treatment facilities.

There are over 100 PMDT treatment facilities across the country, but it is only this year that STCs have been built in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Sulu Provincial Hospital STC in Jolo, Sulu, is the first treatment center to open in ARMM in February this year.

Before the STCs in Jolo and Lamitan were opened, drug-resistant TB patients from ARRM would go as far as Zamboanga City and even Manila for treatment.

“Lamitan STC is a good example of public–private partnership,” said Syrus Silvestre, PMDT team leader for Mindanao of the PBSP’s Global Fund (PBSP-GF) TB project.

The barangay council of Colonia provided the land; the city government provided the funds to build the treatment facility; the local and regional health offices provided technical assistance; and PBSP-GF provided the equipment, supplies and human resource necessary for the STC to function.

Lamitan Mayor Rose Furigay thanked partners for their active support and asked for information campaign for drug-resistant TB  patients to avail themselves of the PMDT services.

She added, “I can say that this is another blessing for Lamitan City, another first. With this facility, I hope we will be able to help more MDRTB patients and TB in Lamitan and Basilan will finally end.”

Article Source: Business Mirror