On May 21, 2019, an Expanded Local Health Board meeting was held at the office of Mayor Varias which attended by AWH as a member.
The agenda were the following:
- Presentation//Analysis of Municipal Primary Health Care Roadmap
- Organization of Barangay (village) Blood Council
- Integration of Barangay Voluntary Blood Council to Municipal Voluntary Blood Council
- Functioning of GeneXpert machine for TB program. Upgrade of air-conditioning system at the laboratory to meet the needed temperature for the machine.
Dr. Manzo, head of the municipal health center, reported the Mobile X-ray helped detect TB cases of tricycle drivers, senior citizens and barangay officials who are at high risk. Smoking and pollution added the risk to it.
She added the barangay health workers refer TB patients to her.
She reported the GeneXpert machine examines the phlegm of a suspected TB patient and multiple drug resistant TB patients. They can get the result within the day. The dry run of the machine will be on May 28 at the main health center. They are aiming for a “TB-free Alfonso” but admitted that family members usually do not report suspected TB patients to a health authority is still a major problem in the community.