BY CHELSEA JEAN VALENTOS & ROSELYN DIAZ/DNSC Interns
LOCAL health officials are intensifying efforts to raise awareness, promote early detection, and encourage treatment adherence as tuberculosis remains a concern for Davao City.
During the Ispeak Media Conference on Thursday, March 19, Dr. Jennie Marie D. Salamasan, national TB program medical coordinator, said Davao City recorded 7,127 new tuberculosis cases in 2025. The total cases, including previously treated patients, reached 8,712.
Despite ongoing interventions, the number of cases continues to rise due to improved detection through strategies such as active case finding.
She said that TB cases are most common among individuals aged 15 to 65, although infections are also present among children and senior citizens.
Salamasan said approximately 199 cases occurred among children, and over 1,000 cases occurred among elderly patients.
“It’s still alarming since our goal is zero TB—zero disease, zero suffering, zero burden. Even if there are free medicines, we still need to spread awareness for them to follow through with the treatment,” she said.
The city has adopted a patient-centered approach to treatment, allowing patients to access medication through barangay health centers and treatment partners, such as trained relatives or community health workers. This system ensures consistent medication intake without requiring daily visits to health centers.
She also emphasized that TB transmission remains present in communities, especially in overcrowded areas and among individuals with limited access to proper nutrition and health information.
Salamasan explained that while 172 TB-related deaths were recorded, these include both cases directly and indirectly linked to tuberculosis, as all patients undergoing treatment who passed away are counted in the data.
