Newly-appointed Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro “Teddy” Herbosa visited the Tuberculosis (TB) - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) facility in Sindalan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga on Friday, June 9.

According to DOH, Herbosa was joined by Central Luzon Center for Health Development Regional Director Corazon Flores, San Fernando City Mayor Vilma Caluag, City Health Officer Rowena Salas, and Rural Health Physician Emerito Mercado during the visit.

“As the new Health Secretary, I assure the public that the DOH will further improve and develop more actions to eliminate tuberculosis in the country,” Herbosa said as quoted by the health department.

San Fernando City has eight certified facilities, including five HIV testing sites, two HIV treatment clinics, and five HIV testing facilities.

Delivery of TB Services (DOTS) facilities provide testing and treatment services as part of basic integrated health care.

The National Tuberculosis Program, meanwhile, seeks to alleviate the burden of tuberculosis by lowering TB mortality and incidence.

The DOH stated that these DOTS facilities helped community groups and community healthcare workers to be involved in their communities TB control activities, and there is an improvement in the utilization of TB care and prevention services by patients and communities.

The health department is presently working with its regional office and local government unit (LGU) offices in providing quality healthcare services to every Juan and Juana for the prevention and treatment of these infectious diseases.

Written By Dana Ebreo, DZRH News Online Intern