The Quezon City (QC) government will host the Philippines’ World TB Day on March 24 at the Quezon Memorial Circle to highlight the country’s continuous fight against tuberculosis.The Quezon City (QC) government will host the Philippines’ World TB Day on March 24 at the Quezon Memorial Circle to highlight the country’s continuous fight against tuberculosis.

With a theme of “Isulong ang Laban sa TB sa Makabagong Paraan”, the event is organized by the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (Philcat).

Philcat is an organization dedicated to raising public awareness on tuberculosis through advocacy activities aiming to eradicate the disease in the country.

Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. is expected to deliver the welcome remarks as the event’s honorary chair.

Other notable event speakers include Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, World Health Representative to the Philippines Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., and Philcat national chairperson Dr. Elizabeth Cadena.

Under Mayor Belmonte, the QC government has set programs to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and alleviate its negative impacts to Filipinos affected by the disease.

These include the Sagip Baga program and a P4.5 million budget initiated in 2009 to aid the city’s anti-TB measures such as purchasing of medicines and its proper distribution to different health centers, and treatment coverage for children with tuberculosis.

In 2009, tuberculosis placed sixth among the leading causes of deaths in QC.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis microorganism.

The disease is characterized by chest and back pains, fever, significant weight loss, shortness of breath, cough lasting for two or more weeks, and recurrent blood-streaked sputum.

The QC government also hosted the Philippines’ World TB Day in 2006.