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PPMD: The CaLaBaRZon Experience
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A write-up on the first year of the RCC-PPMD CaLaBaRZon
The Public-Private Mix Strategy hit CaLaBaRZon in a blast! It was in mid-last year that the Regional Coordinating Committee was established through the unified efforts of several groups led by its Chairperson – Assistant Regional Director Asuncion M. Anden, the CHD IV-A Staff, and with full support from the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis and other organizations in the Region.
With the prime aim of being aid to the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Control Program of the Department of Health, the RCC supports the local PPMD units, organizes new and more units, advocates for the accreditation of PPMD Units in PhilHealth, supports organizations of local TB coalitions, and promotes the Comprehensive Unified Policy (C.U.P.). Also, they coordinate with several groups, government agencies, and private-sector organizations, namely GSIS, SSS, and PBSP.
RCC-PPMD CALABARZON is a strong coalition committed to public sector TB and DOTS-Referring Physicians. In CALABARZON, it has supported the establishment of three (3) of the first PPMD Units in the country. Cavite Medical Society – PPMD Unit in Imus, Cavite is the third unit in CaLaBaRZon. The two others are the following :
With a private-initiated approach, CaLaBaRZon’s first endeavor in the region is with the De La Salle Health Sciences Campus in Dasmariñas, Cavite. It was setup by PhilCAT with funds from Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) USA. The second unit was established in Rosario, Cavite under the Center for Disease Control Our Saviour Hospital – this is the industrial DOTS Clinic in the province.
The cohesive efforts of DOH, Coalition of Concerned Caviteños Against TB (CCCAT), and PhilHealth, pioneered the adoption of PPMD as a strategy to fight the TB problem.
The year that was …
More than fifty gatherings, a whole year that was full of hard work and enthusiasm. These and more comprised the first year since the establishment of RCC-PPMD CALABARZON. This is the first of its three years being funded by the Global Fund for TB, AIDS, and Malaria (GFATM).
The activities during the past year are also geared towards the WHO - Western Pacific Regional Targets for 2005: that of 70% of TB cases will be put to treatment and that 85% of these detected cases will be cured.
Commemoration of the World TB Day 2004 …
Among the highlights of the RCC CALABARZON’s first year are preparations for the inauguration of CMS PPMD Center in Imus last March 22, 2004. Also, Commemorative Activities started two days earlier than the World TB Day itself. Last March 22, 2004 Hon. Sec. Manuel M. Dayrit spent most of his day in Cavite for a series of activities. The day started early for the Secretary, who was assisted by the Regional Director of CHD IV-A – Dr. David Lozada Jr., Dr. Vilma Diez – Provincial Health Officer of Cavite, and Dr. Nereza Javier – Head of Cavite Field Extension Office. They met with Baranggay Health Workers from the different Municipalities and Cities of Cavite in a dialogue.
Then, the Secretary delivered a speech to the people of Cavite during their Flag Ceremony infront of the Trece Martirez City Hall. His key messages during that event were based on the Herculean Labors of the Health Department under the present administration. This was followed by the Blessing and Inauguration of the CMS - PPMD Unit in Imus – where, representatives of the Health Department (Dir. David J. Lozada, Jr. – Regional Director of CHD IV – A, Asst. Regional Director Asuncion M. Anden, Dr. Rosalind Vianzon – Infectious Disease Office, and Dr. Vilma V. Diez – Provincial Health Officer of Cavite. Also, representatives from World Vision, World Health Organization, and other groups gathered to proclaim the units open for services. Finally, a Recognition Ceremony for Referring Physicians was held at the DLSU Health Sciences Campus in Dasmariñas before noon.
Aside from these, the RCC also joined the celebration of the World TB Day at GSIS Theatre, Manila last March 24, where CCCAT was also recognized.
The other activities of the RCC-PPMD during its first year are numerous, ranging from several Planning Workshops and preparations for PPMD Launching last January, Advocacy Visits and Courtesy Calls to LCES, other Social-Mobilization activities including Pre-Implementation Review (Jan. 27), Monitoring and Site Visits (Feb.), DOTS Advocacy Symposia (Feb – Mar), Medical Mission for TB Patients in Cavite Provincial Jail (Mar 21), Technical Meeting with AMHOP of Laguna (Mar 24), DOTS Training for Referring Physicians of Cavite (April), and Year-end Program Implementation Review (June 1, 2004).
For the second year of the RCC, it will be expanding to other provinces in the Region. Primarily, RCC CaLaBaRZon is eyeing sites for this year in Laguna and Quezon. The coalition is looking forward to another fruitful year.
The elements of a good PPMD stems from the answer to TB as a public health problem. In the CALABARZON Region, a strong coalition achieved visible positive results within only a short span of time. Commitment, enthusiasm, and hard work are some of the ever-effective tools…
Cavite PPMD – A Unit Molded with Distinction A write-up on the Public-Private Mix of Cavite Province
In CaLaBaRZon, even before the Executive Order 187 (C.U.P.) was issued, a group of health workers and organizations in Cavite, with strong encouragement from PhilCAT, agreed to work together to help solve the worsening TB situation in their province. This group, which was formally organized in 2002, is now popularly known as the Coalition of Concerned Caviteños Against TB or CCCAT.
CCCAT was formed to strengthen the Cavite TB Control Program through unified efforts and partnerships between the public and private sector. The organizations that compose CCCAT are the following: De La Salle University Health Sciences Campus, Cavite Medical Society, Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM), Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), Solid Bloc, Rotary Club, Drugstore Owners Association of the Philippines (DSAP), Human Resource Association Group (HRAG), Association of Municipal Health Officers Cavite Chapter, Cavite Provincial Health Office, DOH-CHD 4 Cavite Field Extension Office, Cavite Local Government, and Philippine Medical Women’s Association.
This coalition plays a major role in mobilizing stakeholders in order to control this dreadful disease. Its mission is to provide leadership in advocating DOTS Strategy in the prevention and control of TB in the province. CCCAT has six (6) taskforces: Workplace and Informal Sector Taskforce, Faith-Based Organizations Taskforce, Municipal Public-Private Mix Taskforce, School-Based DOTS Taskforce, Allied Medical Professional Societies Taskforce, and Prison-Based Taskforce.
As articulated by Dr. Victoria Dalay, Chairperson of CCCAT, the vital aspects needed to build a strong coalition are the following: first, there must be a champion or leader to lead the team to attain its goals, dedicated members who will exert enough efforts, time, and skill needed for the implementation of its activities, a strong public sector DOTS in place, and support from strong partners in different sectors.
One of the concrete accomplishments of Cavite PPM is the implementation of TB in Prison Initiative. It was conceptualized last March 2003 by CCCAT. There have been Medical Missions conducted in Cavite Provincial Jail to address the needs of TB patients there.
The Provincial Government of Cavite is likewise very supportive of the activities of the PPM and has likewise served as a model to the private sector in pursuing the goals of the coalition. Some of the related activities of Cavite Provincial Health Office regarding advocacy for DOTS implementation are the following: giving incentives to supportive Barangay Captains on DOTS, giving laboratory supplies to GMA II RHU, building strong alliances through events such as concerts, continuous advocacy such as regular write-up about TB DOTS in “Kabite” their local newsletter, and launching of Tutok-Gamutan Handbook among others.
For events of other partners in different sectors, some are the following: giving negatoscope to Cavite TB Diagnostic Committee, receiving Cambodian visitors to witness Cavite PPM activities for the World TB Commemoration, Implementation of TB in the Workplace Initiative in some private companies in Cavite, and others.
The Cavite TB Diagnostic Committee was organized by World Vision’s Kusog-Baga Project in September 2002. The committee was ably chaired, then, by Dr. Charles Yu, and at present, by Dr. Gary Carlos, a DLSU Medical Center Pulmonologist. It boasts of dedicated and highly esteemed health professionals as its members. The committee meets regularly twice a month to evaluate forty to sixty (40-60) referral cases.
There are three (3) newly established PPMD Units in Cavite. The first ever PPMD Unit in CaLaBaRZon is in DLSU Health Sciences Campus in Dasmariñas – setup by PhilCAT with funds from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention USA. The second unit was established in Rosario, Cavite under the auspices of Our Savior Hospital. This is the industrial DOTS clinic in the province. And most recently, during the World TB Day Commemoration in March, the Cavite Medical Society (CMS), under the leadership of Dr. Alfredo Navarette, blessed the third unit. The CMS PPMD Unit serves primarily the clients of referring private practitioners from Imus and Bacoor. DLSU has now expanded to 45 referring physicians and Rosario currently has 39.
The elements of a good PPMD units stems from the answer to TB as a public health problem. In Cavite, CCCAT helped significantly in achieving visible positive results within only three years from its establishment. From a Case Detection Rate of 23% it has now achieved 53% in 2003, whereby moving more positively to meet the WHO target for year 2005 of 70%. Likewise, the Cure Rate of Cavite in 2001 is 69%, and it has moved to 78% in 2003 meeting the WHO target of 85% by next year.
This unit has been molded with distinction since its members are Caviteños with distinct pride and enthusiasm to sustain the Public-Private Mix Strategy to promote DOTS and synchronize management of TB cases in their province. With this attitude and will – the Cavite PPM will certainly achieve the target set by WHO towards 2005.
Thus, the true spirit of Caviteños is emphasized when they spoke of action by utterring – Act Now – Sama-sama nating labanan ang TB! More and more projects are in line for the coming years of Cavite PPM. It is but proper to call the coalition a success.
Prepared by :
Maria Joane D. Corbe
Asst. Information Officer
Center for Health Development IV-A
*This article was lifted from the Cavite PPMD Documentary by RCC CaLaBaRZon launched last June 1, 2004. |
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