TUBERCULOSIS is an infectious and may be lethal disease that should be paid more attention to, especially when it affects children. In the Department of Education, Tuberculosis in children is one of the focuses we need to view since school children are the spotlight in the workplace.

Since Implementing Tuberculosis Control Program in Children was mandated in the Administrative Order No. 2008 – 0011, providing a policy for casefinding, treatment of children with TB, tracing of children at stake of developing TB and standard recording and reporting of NTP activities are the objectives to be acted on.

As health initiators in the Department of Education, the nurses that were trained from the TB in children, namely Mrs. Mary Larcy B. Pojas and Mrs. Sheryl Jane T. Melendez from the School Health and Nutrition Section designed an orientation to all the nurses in the Division of Malaybalay City to augment the information they have acquired during their training in Oroquieta City.

Last January 4, 2013, the Division nurses were gathered round at the Home Economics Room at Malaybalay City Central School for a one-day orientation in TB in children. Mrs. Pojas and Mrs. Melendez shared the facts about the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) in the Philippines specifically TB control in children. With the said program, the nurses were able to come by the information that TB in children is important to understand because unlike adults, assessing the diagnosis of TB in children is difficult and complex.

The five highlights that were discussed and accentuated during the orientation were the (1) Identification of Tuberculosis in Children, (2) Administering Treatment, (3) Registering and Monitoring Treatment of Children with TB Disease, (4) Prevention of TB in Children and (5) Quarterly Reporting.

Bit by bit, nurses have learned a whole heap about how TB in children can be managed. Careful history and clinical examination is an important approach to consider apart from securing the diagnostic examinations from the client.

The orientation activity was a fun, learning experience since Mrs. Pojas and Mrs. Melendez gave a pre and post tests to the nurses that made the learning process easier and participant-friendly. Also, there was never a dull moment during the discussion because all nurses were participative by reading important highlights, which led to open discussions and sharing of opinions.  Lots of questions were raised and answered and somehow, nurses were able to learn many things.

In general, the TB in children orientation was beneficial. It directed the nurses to a whole new perception about the goals that we need to carry out. Managing TB in children takes a lot of effort and challenge, but with the hand in hand cooperation from all of us, our goals will only direct us to many things—attainment of a better health to a better learning—and a better future to envision.

– by NANCY L. DEQUITO, Division Health & Nutrition Head Nurse