In observance of World Tuberculosis Day, which took place over the weekend, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) highlighted their Specimen Transport Riders (STRiders) Program, which provides for the transport of samples from possible tuberculosis (TB) patients to various testing facilities. The organization notes, rural health units and other similar facilities often lack transport mechanisms to identify TB cases quickly and efficiently.

According to PBSP, last year, between July and December, after identifying 133,176 potential TB patients from across the country, STRiders managed to get samples transported to proper diagnostic laboratories, where 22,716 of the patients turned out to be confirmed TB cases.

The organization currently handles 138 motorcyclists across seven regions.

Last year, in a Bacolod City Health Office report that found dengue hemorrhagic fever, a severe form of dengue fever, was the second leading cause of death in the city last year, it also listed tuberculosis among other leading causes of death in the city./WDJ