By Luel Galarpe/PNA
CEBU CITY – The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) will conduct a mass screening for tuberculosis (TB) among inmates in all Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities in the region starting this month.
Katherine Rose Boiser, technical staff of DOH-7’s Communicable Disease Section, told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that they are targeting 14,583 inmates in Central Visayas to be screened through X-ray.
Boiser said PHP3.5 million has been allocated for the mass screening, which is also conducted in observance of the World TB Day on March 24.
She said the mass screening will start on March 18 at the Cebu City Jail, where the DOH-7 will cater to some 1,500 inmates for five days.
“On March 24, the exact date for World TB Day, we will be carrying out the screening at the Minglanilla Municipal Jail and at the Minglanilla Rehabilitation Center,” Boiser said.
She said the TB mass screening will be conducted until August 2.
The screening in Cebu Province, which will be until June 28, will also be conducted at the jail facilities in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Bogo, Danao, Naga, Carcar, and Toledo, as well as in the municipalities of Bantayan, Medellin, Consolacion, and Balamban.
In Bohol, the screening will be held at the District Jails of Carmen, Talibon, and Ubay and at the Tagbilaran City Jail.
The DOH-7 will also visit the prison facilities in Dumaguete City, Bayawan City, Tanjay, Bais City, Mabinay, Manjoyod, Guihulngan, Canlaon, and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental.
The last screening on August 2 will be conducted at the Siquijor District Jail.
