TB HEALTHWORKERS SERVE AMID COVID-19
MARAWI CITY - Around 600 community healthcare workers trained by USAid in the city, through its TB Platforms Project on TB screening and community contact tracing, continue to serve even amid the pandemic.
Since the start of the Covid-19, TB responders have been actively supporting the City Health Office in ensuring there is continuous provision of TB services.
Last May, all of them have been called to support the city’s Covid-19 centers. They continue to monitor enlisted TB patients adherence to treatment since they are most prone to get infected by the corona virus.
“I started working as a nurse for the City Health Office just August last year. I know from that time that I will be working for the tuberculosis program. But never in my dreams that thought I will be called to serve for a pandemic response,” Nash Diron, NTP nurse coordinator in Marawi City, said. “Since that time I joined the TB program, I have learned a lot from the trainings provided by USAid. Along with my colleagues, we would attend three-day workshops and live-in seminars on how we can help eradicate TB in the city. It was tasking but fulfilling for me since I can use my profession in helping our LGU find and treat TB patients,” she added.
Diron completed the recent webinars on infection prevention and control (IPC) for TB and Covid-19 administered by USAid’s TB Platforms for community health care workers. She said when she learned about the webinar, she told her colleagues to attend as well.
"We have our own families. Like me, I have a son that I come home to everyday.So it is better that I know how to protect myself and my family. I try to explain the IPC guidelines to our family members as well and beg that everyone should cooperate” Diron said.
USAid’s TB Platforms provides technical assistance to the Department of Health’s National Tuberculosis Control Program in the city, Regions 3 and 4-A and the National Capital Region.
Partnership vs TB and Covid-19
Since March 2020, the project led by its Chief of
Party Dr. Marianne Calnan, has been collaborating with Regional Center for Health Development, local government units and health facilities on infection prevention and control for both TB and Covid-19.
Dr. Christian Villacorte, USAid’s TB Platforms PMDT/ Patient-Centered Care Specialist, during the webinar series, explained how healthcare workers for TB and Covid-19 can protect themselves from the coronavirus. Apart from this, he highlighted how LGUs and hospitals can improve their administrative controls for infection prevention and control.
USAid’s TB Platforms also partnered with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in sharing basic information about TB and Covid-19 and how public and private institutions are working together to promote public health education for both killer diseases.
The project’s Social and Behavior Change Communications Specialist Diwata de Castro-Paredes continues to work with regional PIA offices in media outreach. Regional radio and TV stations provides free airtime and publication of news and inspiring stories about healthcare workers serving for TB and Covid-19 response.
USAid’s TB Platforms Field and Operations Manager Dr. Zhamir Umag works with Marawi City Health Office, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Department of Interior and Local Government and Barmm Ministry of Health in line with strengthening TB response amid Covid-19.
USAid’s TB Platforms is working on the launch of TB Contact Center in Marawi City and other demonstration sites as part of its support to help TB patients and their families address concerns on TB services and treatment especially during the community quarantine.