DOH, USAID PH raise awareness of childhood tuberculosis via book

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 28, 2020): DOH, USAID PH raise awareness of childhood tuberculosis via book (By Gabriela Liana Barela)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Aug.28 (PIA) -- Department of Health and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines raise awareness of childhood tuberculosis (TB) through a storybook.

Entitled “Tibay ng Dibdib”, it documents the story of two sisters from Bulacan who survived TBat their very young ages – two and seven years old.

"Tibay ng Dibdib provides a solid example of Filipinos’ resilience. I have been working at USAID Philippines for less than a year but I have seen firsthand Filipinos’ amazing strength,” USAID Philippines Office of Health Director Michelle Lang-Alli said during the formal handover of the storybook.

She added that the storybook highlights the community's part in ending the disease. "It takes a whole village to support a TB patient and it can be done with compassion and through partnerships," Lang-Alli stressed.

Governor Daniel Fernando holds a copy of the Tibay ng Dibdib storybook, which documents the story of two sisters from Bulacan who survived Tuberculosis at their very young ages – two and seven years old. (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)

For her part, USAID TB Platforms Chief of Party Marianne Calnan encouraged everyone to take part in the journey to achieving a TB-free Philippines. "I ask that everyone should seize every opportunity presented to us to push forward our TB response efforts," Calnan said.

USAID’s TB Platforms in partnership with Rogaciano Mercado Memorial Hospital prepared the storybook as well as the coloring book for kids which detail the challenges of the family in coping up with the treatment.

It explains how the family found out that their first daughter’s more than two weeks of cough and fever was because of TB. After several consultations and laboratory tests, they later found out that their elder daughter has TB as well.

Fortunately, TB medicines were provided for free in the government hospital. The family went to RMMH daily for six months for the first child and nine months for the other one to complete the required treatment. (CLJD/GLSB-PIA 3)

DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion holds a copy of the Tibay ng Dibdib storybook, which documents the story of two sisters from Bulacan who survived Tuberculosis at their very young ages – two and seven years old. (Gabriela Liana S. Barela/PIA 3)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1051642