Lick TB by 2015-PHILCAT
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major pubic-health burden in the Philippines, not only straining the health system but also contributing to huge losses in productive man-hours.
"While tuberculosis has declined considerably in some areas of the country, all of us who are concerned about health and development know that the disease still poses a serious and increasing problem in the far-flung and hard-to-reach communities," said Dr. Melvin Magno, secretary of the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PHILCAT).
Speaking at PHILCAT's 14th annual convention in August at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Ortigas Center, Magno, who is this year's convention chair, stressed the need to control TB to a level where it is no longer seen as a public-health problem as envisioned under the government's health-sector reform agenda.
The disease adversely affects a large segment of the society, from the marginalized to the
economically productive sectors. The causal agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is easily transmitted through airborne droplet nuclei when patients with pulmonary TB cough or sneeze. If left untreated, TB could lead to a disabling condition and even death. Also partial treatment of cases may cause drug resistance that could lead to treatment failure and increase in the number of drug-resistant cases.
PHILCAT had as theme for this year's meeting Quality Care in TB: Going for the Win in 2015 to stress the need to step up the anti-TB drive, which is getting a big boost with increased government funding. Keynoting the meet, Health undersecretary Ethelyn Nieto said the government has increased its budget for its anti-TB program from PhP213 million to PhP280 million.
Dr. Michael Voniatis of the World Health Organization stressed that global support is necessary in the implementation of the Philippine anti-TB program. "The prevention of infection to children starts by curing the adults to cut the transmission," he said. The three-day working convention was attended by representatives from member associations of PHILCAT, nongovernment organizations, doctors, and other health professionals.
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Asia hosts osteoporosis congress
For the first time, the International Osteoporosis Foundation's (IOF) World Congress on
Osteoporosis will be held on December 3 to 7 in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the first time that Asia plays host to the meeting.
As the leading global congress covering all aspects of osteoporosis and related bone diseases, the World Congress on Osteoporosis offers clinicians and scientists from around the world an overview of the most recent developments and cutting-edge research in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis and health-policy-related issues.
"We decided to hold this important event in Asia partly because of the enormous projected
growth in osteoporosis in the region," noted IOF chief executive Daniel Navid, who pointed out that in 2050 one out of every two osteoporotic fractures will occur in Asia.
Research scientists, practitioners and other health professionals can benefit from the
numerous meet-the-expert sessions and 12 plenary lectures by global experts, special nutrition session, Asian Osteoporosis Audit, oral presentation of selected abstracts, poster sessions, and nine satellite symposiums which complete the thought-provoking program.
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SSP boosts stroke-prevention drive
Even though stroke is a medical emergency responsible for 10 percent of all deaths
worldwide, the good news is that stroke is preventable. This was stressed by Dr. Ester Bitanga, president of the Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP), as the group observed "Brain Attack Awareness Week" from August 12 to 19.
One of the highlights of the observance was SSP's eighth annual convention held August 16 to 18 at the El Centro Convention Center inside Legenda Hotel in Subic. Among the highlights of the convention were a postgraduate course and a lay forum on stroke, the annual "Lakad against Brain Attack," and symposiums on different aspects of stroke.
"The best treatment of stroke is not to have one," said Bitanga even as she warned that artery-plaque formation may begin as early as 18 years old, so one should not wait for old age before practicing a healthy lifestyle.
Next to prevention, early detection is key to one's survival. Bitanga said that patients who experience symptoms of stroke should be assessed immediately and brought to the hospital for imaging tests. These symptoms include sudden weakness on one side of the body; numbness or tingling sensation in the face, arm, and leg; slurred speech; loss of vision in one eye; severe and unusual headache; dizziness; and loss of balance.
Stroke falls under vascular-system diseases, the second leading cause of mortality in the Philippines and leading cause of disability. Data on local prevalence show that stroke affects 14 out of every 1,000 Filipinos.
To further understand the burden of stroke and other events caused by atherothrombosis, the Philippines is taking part in the REACH (Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health) Registry, which keeps track of rates and treatment patterns of patients with atherothrombosis worldwide. Dr. Artemio Roxas Jr., SSP secretary, said the project includes more than 60,000 patients in 44 countries, including the Philippines. There are more than 1,000 Filipinos currently enrolled in the registry.
Atherothrombosis is and will remain a leading cause of death worldwide, Roxas warned.
The chance of suffering myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiovascular (CV) death, and hospitalization doubles among patients with polyvascular disease. One in five patients with a history of peripheral-arterial disease will have MI or stroke, be hospitalized, or die of CV cause. One in seven patients with a history of stroke or heart attack will also have MI, another stroke, be hospitalized, or die of CV cause. Roxas also pointed out that in Asia, more people suffer from stroke than MI.
M C. Paraz, MD
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