Raising awareness
Stigma deprives people with tuberculosis of their right to quality care. With this, the agency reminded the public that TB is curable and not something to be ashamed of.
“When a TB patient starts treatment, within one or two weeks or a month, depending on his sputum test result, he is no longer contagious”, Garcia added.
She then reminded the public not to believe in myths that can stigmatize and discriminate against people with TB.
“Tuberculosis is not hereditary and cannot be acquired by fatigue, staying awake, or dry sweat on the back”, she explained.
Another misconception that DOH is trying to correct is that you can get infected by using the cutlery of a person with tuberculosis, or it can be transmitted through kissing or sexual intercourse, and only thin people can have TB.
Moreover, Garcia urged TB-infected persons to go to the nearest health center to start and finish their treatment.
For other information regarding anti-TB services, the public may contact numbers 0945-268-0584, 0919-330-2200 or 0919-330-2205. (MJSC/RGP-PIA 3)