PhilCAT Stages 16th Annual Convention

The Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) held its 16th Annual Convention at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Ortigas Center, Quezon City last August 13-14, 2009.

The convention, dubbed “Synergy in TB Care: A Holistic Approach,” tackled numerous topics surrounding the management, diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB).

Led by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, doctors, nurses, health workers, LGU officials, NGO's, DOH personnel, Muslim Religious Leaders (MRL), funding agencies, private practitioners, and other health professionals who attended were all united in improving their knowledge on combating Tuberculosis (TB) in the country.

An exhibit showcasing various activities by private and public institutions against TB was among the highlights of the convention.

PhilCAT is in support of DOH’s National TB Control Program (NTP) which aims to reduce the prevalence and mortality of TB by half and to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Below is the summary of lectures presented during the convention:

Topic	Presenter/s
National TB Control Program (NTP) Updates	Yolanda E. Oliveros, MD, MPH Director IV, National Center for Disease Prevention and Control Department of Health
Fighting the TB Epidemic in the Western Pacific: Current Situation & Challenges Ahead	Nobu Nishikiori, MD, MSc, PhD Regional Stop TB Advisor WHO-Western Pacific Region
Psychosocial Aspect in the Management of TB - In children and Adolescents	Grace A. Macapagal, MD
Biopsychosocial Approach to the Care of Tuberculosis	Josefina S. Isidro-Lapeña MD, MFM Associate Professor, UP College of Medicine
Management of TB in Various Settings – TB in schools	Elmer Angus, MD
Management of TB in Various Settings - TB in Workplace: Local Experience	Ma. Teresita S. Cucueco, MD and Victoria B. Dalay, MD
TB in Prisons and Jails	Ma. Lorela Averilla, MD, Jubert P. Benedicto, MD, Ilna Rita Maderazo, MD, and Cecilia Villanueva, MD
Clinical Pearls: Approach to Commonly Encountered Pitfalls in the Diagnosis and Management of TB: Common Pitfalls in the Diagnosis Approach of TB	Noel G. Macalalad, MD
Clinical Pearls: Approach to Commonly Encountered Pitfalls in the Diagnosis and Management of TB: Common Pitfalls in the Radiologic Diagnosis of TB	Pedro Danilo Lagamayo, MD
Clinical Pearls: Approach to Commonly Encountered Pitfalls in the Diagnosis and Management of TB: Common Pitfalls in the Therapeutic Approach of TB	Jose Hesron Morfe, MD
Updates in Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Diagnosis and Management of TB Meningitis	Paul Pasco, MD
Updates in Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Diagnosis and Management TB of the Bone	Edwin Jerd Siatan, MD
Updates in Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Diagnosis and Management of Genito-Urinary TB	Angel Rodriguez- Bandola, MD
Management of Common PTB Complications: Pleural Effusion, Pneumothroax, Fibrothorax, Hemoptysis - Medical Approach to PTB Complications	Lalaine Llamado-Mortera, MD
Management of Common PTB Complications: Pleural Effusion, Pneumothroax, Fibrothorax, Hemoptysis - Surgical Approach to PTB Complications	Antonio B. Ramos, MD
TB as a Differential Diagnosis - TB vs. FUO	Mario M. Panaligan, MD
TB as a Differential Diagnosis - TB vs. Malignancy	Guia Elena Imelda R. Ladera, MD
Improving the Quality of Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy (DSSM)	Cristina C. Villarico, MD
MDR-TB Rapid Diagnosis	Grace Egos, RMT, MSPH
Dietary Supplements in TB: is there a Role?	Susana M. Balingit, MD
Impact of Inappropriate Antibiotic Use in the Development of MDR-TB	Camilo C. Roa, Jr., MD., FPCP, FPCCP Professor of Physiology and Medicine UP College of Medicine - PGH
Antibiotic Collateral Damage: How it leads to MDR-TB	Roberto P. Salvino, MD
Vaccines that Really Matter for TB Patients	Cecilia Montalban, MD, and May B. Montellano, MD

The event was made possible in collaboration with the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians and the DOH. Founded in 1994, PhilCAT works in partnership with DOH to spearhead efforts in controlling TB, together with chest physicians, infectious disease specialists and non-government organizations.

You may contact PhilCAT at +632 749-8990, 781-9535 to 36; e-mail pcat@pldtdsl.net; or visit their website at http://www.philcat.org.