The Navotas City local government announced on Sunday, Aug. 20, that it received an award from the Department of Health (DOH) during the Health Race to End Tuberculosis Annual Awards 2023.
Navotas City Vice Mayor Tito Sanchez received the silver plaque in Treatment Coverage Rate of Tuberculosis at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria on Aug. 15.
DOH said the city government marked a 93.9 percent increase in its tuberculosis (TB) case detection rate in 2022.
Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco thanked the Navotas health workers for their continuous efforts in reaching constituents who are suffering from the disease and providing them with medical care.
“We also call on each Navoteño to join the fight against TB. This disease is contagious, but curable. Patients can avail of its treatment for free at our accredited TB-DOTS centers,” Tiangco said.
Out of 11 healthcare centers in Navotas, five of them provide the Directly Observed Therapy for the Treatment of Tuberculosis (TB-DOTS) program.
TB DOTS is a commitment of the national government to ensure and sustain a comprehensive TB prevention and treatment.
With the help of various sectors in the city, Navotas health sector's active case finding of TB patients led to a significant increase in treatment coverage, DOH noted.
In 2020, the city government started giving livelihood assistance to TB patients who completed six to eight months of treatment under the Navotas City TB Control Program.
The city government said 583 TB patients received their P3,000 financial aid last year.