Bohol Provincial Governor Edgar Chatto, in his 10-minute eloquent keynote speech during the August 6, 2011 turnover ceremonies of the private sector initiatives in tuberculosis control to the public sector, strongly inspired the audience at the Metro Centre Hotel as he convincingly called everyone to actively participate in the “STOP TB STRATEGY” TARGETS to reduce prevalence of and deaths due to TB by 50% in 2015 and eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2050. Chatto, who was ably introduced by Bohol Board Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, lauded the people at the helm of the leadership of the project including Dr. Lopez himself who is the chairman of the Committee on Health and Sanitation. The Bohol Governor was, in return, commended by audience for his skill in communication, his views on health and wellness and his wealth of information about the project considering HEALTH as first in his HEAT PROGRAM now implemented province-wide.

Led by Dr. Audrey Ramiro of the Ramiro Community Hospital & Clinical Laboratory, the TB Control project has adopted “Love of country” as its inspiring catchphrase to attract people to join the cause. “Everyone should be infected by this ‘Love of Country’ virus,” the young Ramiro said. Other numbers of the program during the turnover ceremonies included the welcome remarks by the city medical officer and coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) - Dr. Apollo John Benaldez followed by the opening remarks of Annie Largo who is the Senior Program Officer of the Visayas TB-Linc. One highlight of the affair was the scholarly paper of Dr. Lalaine Mortera, program manager of the TB LINC-PTSI (Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc.) sub-grant for the Private Sector which presented the program milestones, accomplishments and challenges. Testimonies about the program were delivered by Evelyn Mesiona of Alvelyn’s Pharmacy for the Pharmacy DOTS Initiative; Dr. Riche de la Fuente of the Tagbilaran Community Hospital for the TB DOTS Referring Hospital and Jirby Baja of the Ramiro Community Hospital & Clinical Laboratory for the TB DOTS Providing Hospital.

Another meaningful part of the event was the recognition of partners in the local DOTS Referral Network where everyone, led by Governor Edgar Chatto, affixed his signature on the declaration of commitment sheet. Other major signatories represented the CHD VII & Regional NTP Team, Province of Bohol & PHO NTP Core Team, City of Tagbilaran & CHO NTP Team, Ramiro Community Hospital & Clinical Laboratory, Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative-Bohol & Clinical Laboratory, Holy Name University Medical Center Foundation, Inc. & Clinical Laboratory, Tagbilaran Community Hospital, Bohol St. Jude General Hospital, Tagbilaran Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Englewood Hospital, Borja Family Hospital, Magpayo Clinic, Mercury Drug Corporation, BQ Pharmacy, Paz Pharmacy, Alvelyn’s Pharmacy, Saver’s Choice Pharmacy, BCDC Pharmacy & Medical Clinic, Merly Pharmacy Branch 1, the Bohol Chronicle & the Sunday Post & the Provincial Council Against Tuberculosis (Pro-CAT-Bohol).

The symbolic turnover of Program Materials had the following personalities doing the honors: Annie Largo, Dr. Lalaine Mortera, Dr. Portia Reyes – Provincial Health Team Leader of Bohol and Dr. Apollo John Bernaldez. Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Provincial Health officer II of the Province of Bohol delivered the words of support, while Mercenia Mollaneda – Bohol area manager for the TB LINC-PTSI Sub-grant acknowledged the guests and partners. Alice de Guzman rendered the closing remarks. Ardy Araneta – Batoy of “SMILE”, Philippines and CLASSIQUE de BOHOL HERBS PRODUCTS, constantly recognized the sponsors of the affair, namely: USAID, PTSI, Department of Health, Provincial Government of Bohol and the City Government of Tagbilaran. by Mary-Mel’s Trends