THE City Health Office (CHO) has opened a TB-DOTS (Tuberculosis-Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) clinic called the SunDown Clinic to cater to patients diagnosed to have tuberculosis but cannot seek consultation either due to stigma or they simply do not have the luxury of time.
Dr. Claire Paglinawan, medical in-charge, said the clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Paglinawan said the clinic will not only offer free consultations, but will also be an avenue for those who want to avail treatment.
In 2017, almost 3,000 cases were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in Cagayan de Oro.
City Health Officer Dr. Rachel Dilla said TB detection in the city remains relatively low. Last year, the disease was listed ninth in the top 10 leading causes of deaths of Kagayanons.
This is why the CHO aims to improve and increase TB case detection rate from 56 percent to 90 percent by the end of December 2019.
One of the CHO's interventions to increase detection is the launching of TB SunDown Clinic to intensify TB case screening and detection.
Dilla said they are also planning to screen the inmates of the Lumbia City Jail who are vulnerable to the contagious disease.
The inclusion of Chest X-Ray Examination for tricycle drivers and barangay police are also mulled.
