Ilocos Region’s bid to screen more tuberculosis (TB) patients in geographically isolated and depressed areas got a boost after the regional health office received on Tuesday a mobile chest X-ray van.

Based on the Department of Health-Center for Health Development – Ilocos (DOH-CHD-1) data, the number of TB cases in the region from Jan. 1 to Dec. 4 this year already reached 18,512, higher than the 17,349 cases in the entire 2022.

“Our goal for the program is to find and treat as many TB cases as possible. Only by finding and treating these cases can we limit the spread,” DOH-CHD-1 Director Paula Paz Sydiongco said in her speech during the turnover ceremony by the Philippine Business for Social Progress of La Union to the agency.

DOH offers X-ray vouchers and free TB medication in directly observed therapy short-course (DOTS) clinics or hospitals nationwide.

The mobile x-ray van will start its mission in the region by January 2024. (PNA)