Quezon City Jail's Male Dormitory personnel and persons deprived of liberty (PDL) on Thursday, March 24, marked World Tubercolosis (TB) Day with contests and activities inside the facility.
The event, led by Jail Supt. Michelle Bonto, QC Jail warden, saw the participation of 15 PDLs who represented Barangays Mapayapa, Maginhawa, Masaya, Maligaya, and Bayan ng Querna in three competitions that allowed them to show their talent in arts and performances.
Five PDLs performed rap songs that focused on this year’s theme: “Invest to End TB, Save Lives." The PDL representative from Brgy. Maligaya emerged as the winner.
Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) in the facility also competed in the “Miss TB-Tilyo” beauty pageant where they presented their own creative costumes and answered questions related to the celebration. The candidate of Brgy. Maginhawa won the pageant.
Brgy. Maginhawa’s representative also won the “On-the-spot sa Baga” poster making contest.
The highlight of the event was the launching of the “Sabayang Inom” program where Supt. Bonto, the PDLs, and health workers assigned to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were each given colorful cups and bottles filled with water to drink together.
“Kaya po tayo may tinatawag na sabayang Inom ng barangay ay upang ipaalala sa bawat isa na palagiang uminom ng tubig sa araw ng tag-init upang hindi tayo madehydrate at hindi tayo magkasakit (The reason why we have this sabayang inom of barangays is to remind everyone to always drink water in summer so that we will not get dehydrated and get sick),” Bonto said before she signaled the participants to start drinking.
The program will be conducted in the facility daily at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m.
World TB Day is celebrated every March 24 to raise awareness and understanding about the infectious disease.