Cases of leprosy, diarrhea, pneumonia and tuberculosis detected

Culion Foundation Inc. promotes active case finding in Samar

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
November 12, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  In recognition of the principle that primary health care is geared towards prevention more than therapy, Culion Foundation Inc. promotes active case finding (ACF) in eight municipalities and one city in Samar province.

Health workers through the support of Culion Foundation Inc. (CFI) and a Spanish Foundation do not wait for patients to seek medical care but instead go to the covered areas and conduct case finding activities. This way, CFI said, early detection is done and subsequent treatment is offered.

CFI also noted that the case finding activities provide a more comprehensive health profile of a particular barangay or municipality and alerts of potential danger or outbreak.

Similarly, it also reorients traditional notion and practices that only those with afflictions should be subjected to check-ups or medical consultations.

In due time, CFI stressed that a behavioral change as in health seeking behavior may take place.

The activity pushed vigorously by CFI is hoped to break down barriers between scientific knowledge and ignorance as medical practitioners and their constituency communicates in less formal and alienate environment where questions and classifications can be immediately addressed, CFI added.

To ensure that active case finding is sustained in the eight municipalities of Samar, CFI and ANESVAD visited the province and witnessed two active case finding activities in Pinabacdao and Tarangnan towns.

ANESVAD and CFI provide not only logistics during  active case finding stints but also training for all health workers not only for physicians and nurses but even for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).

Dr. Antonio Tirazona, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Project Management Committee (PPMC) said that the public should be vigilant with their families that the four mentioned cases are communicable ones and children maybe at risk.