The Department of Health (DOH) has provided free tuberculosis (TB) screening and services to more than 7,000 people across 17 regions as part of its nationwide simultaneous active case-finding activities.

In a social media post on Saturday, DOH said the initiative seeks to detect active TB cases early, ensure immediate treatment and curb further transmission.

In addition to case finding, the DOH is expanding the rollout of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT), which is offered to household or close contacts of TB patients, as well as high-risk groups such as people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) and individuals with other illnesses.

Under the campaign “TPTodo: Panangga Laban sa TB, Proteksyon ay Garanti,” Cebu City led localized efforts, serving more than 600 beneficiaries.

The health department said the program supports the Marcos administration’s mandate to strengthen public health education and widen access to essential services against TB.

Free TB screening, confirmatory testing, treatment, and preventive therapy remain available in TB-DOTS (directly-observed treatment, short-course) facilities nationwide, the agency added. (PNA)