Lift-TB Philippines project commences joint
monitoring with the BPAL research team
As the LIFT-TB Project wraps-up BPaL Operational Research (OR) activities and gears its support for the programmatic scale-up of WHO-recommended drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) regimens, the LIFT-TB team consisting of Dr Mamel Quelapio (KNCV and TB Alliance Consultant) and Ms. Maricel Trono (TDF Project Coordinator), the Research Team, with Dr Irene Flores as Principal Investigator, Ms Rhoda Cervas (Research Coordinator), Ms Charlotte Cabalitan and Ms. Jeam Carpin (both Research Specialists) conducted the first joint on-site monitoring in Pampanga from May 31 to June 1, 2023. The team was joined by Ms Geliza Recede (CHD 3 Nurse NTP Coordinator) and Ms. Irene Toledo (CHD 3 Med. Tech. NTP Coordinator) during the visit in Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBL), the OR site with the most number of enrolled BPaL patients.
The team did a courtesy visit to Pampanga Provincial Health Office and met with Dr. Maria Imelda Labrador (Provincial Health Officer I) and Mr. Nickson Manlutac (Provincial Nurse NTP Coordinator) to advocate for the expansion of new DRTB regimens in the province. The team also met with JBL Medical Center Chief, Dr. Monserrat Chichioco, to formally extend the project’s appreciation for the support to the OR, congratulate the JBL team for the excellent performance, and advocate for future programmatic activities. Both authorities welcomed the introduction of the novel regimen recognizing its benefits for both patients and the program. They, however, expressed concerns over potential operational challenges that may hamper implementation. Ms. Recede assured that CHD 3 will hold a Consultative Meeting in July 2023 with the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the province to provide a platform for discussion of issues, in line with the transition plan of the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of the DOH.
The team met with the staff of JBL headed by Dr. Sherryl Magayanes (STC Physician) and nurse staff namely Mr Louie Prince Sunga and Ms Daisy Danting to validate the OR data, follow-up missing data and probe into the challenges encountered during implementation. Findings were generally positive asserting the competency and dedication of the JBL team. The team also met with the medical technologist of JBL Hospital Laboratory for Xpert Ultra and MTB/XDR, Ms. Phoebe Cruz, to hear her experience aligned in line with expansion activities.
In preparation for the scale-up, the team visited RHU I and II of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga to observe the current scenario in terms of facility readiness for the programmatic expansion of the new DRTB regimens. The team interviewed the staff including Mr. Richard Dennis Yap (Public Health Nurse – PHN), Ms. Karell Navarro (STC Nurse) and Mr. Richard Puno (Medical Technologist) of RHU II, and Dr. Sonny Branzuela (RHU Physician), Ms. Cynthia Fabian (PHN), Ms. Ernalen Lagman (STC nurse) and Ms. Anne Roslyn Bamba (Lab Aide) of RHU I and observed their processes based on the standard checklist developed by the team.
Further to the RHU visits, various technical, operational and administrative challenges such as lack of manpower, need for capacity building, lack of political commitment, etc. were identified. A narrative report on the team’s findings and recommendations will be prepared to provide guidance in the transition planning.
This monitoring activity is the first of a series of visits to BPaL OR sites and adjacent iDOTS facilities and laboratories. The output from these visits is intended to serve as a reference for scientific manuscript preparation and further basis for stronger recommendations in support of the programmatic expansion of the BPaL-based DR-TB regimens.
LIFT-TB is supported by TB Alliance, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, International Tuberculosis Research Center, and the Tropical Disease Foundation.
