Repue oft Phipines DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOI OLS RABOLEGH Gan EOSAurns eco ene Wes ang an Sy “ase aos ADVISORY FEB 04 2021 TO : ALL PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS, CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, DILG REGIONAL DIRECTORS, PROVINCIAL DIRECTORS, DILG FIELD PERSONNELS INCLUDING BARMM MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND OTHERS CONCERNED SUBJECT : SUPPORT FOR THE RESUMPTION OF ALL TUBERCULOSIS (TB) ACTIVE CASE FINDING ACTIVITIES AND CARE PROVISION IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL TB CONTROL PROGRAM ADAPTIVE PLAN (NAP) FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC While the country is still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, local government units (LGUs) continue to provide necessary health services through the implementation of programs and projects on the control of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB). The immediate resumption of active TB case-finding activities and care provision at the local level must be done with observance of adequate preventive measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission Itis along this line that the Department of Health (DOH) issued Administrative Order 2020-0056, entitled “National TB Control Program Adaptive Plan (NAP) for the COVID-19 Pandemic” to provide doable measures and adjustments to TB care guidelines in ensuring the sustainability of cascading amidst the present pandemic. To revive TB services in the community level, all local government officials and functionaries are hereby advised to spearhead, lead, and ensure the conduct of following activities 4. Extend full support to the implementation of the National TB Control Program Adaptive Plan for sustained TB services during the COVID- 49 pandemic in their respective areas of responsibilities;2. Ensure that the policies and guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and control will be strictly implemented during the conduct of TB activities, and develop counterpart local policies and allocate resources to ensure compliance with the adaptive guidelines; and, 3. Facilitate the widest information dissemination of DOH guidelines among other information and advocacy materials. LGUs are likewise enjoined to resume active TB case finding and provide the necessary budgetary support and adequate resources to systematically co-screen for both TB and COVID-19, and safely deliver patient-centered TB care and prevention services to arrest potential TB transmission in the communities. The integration of TB care measures vis- a-vis COVID-19 activities during the conduct of community screening activities, facility-based screening, and contact tracing must comply with the National TB Control Program Adaptive Plan guidelines, to wit: 1. Observance of the minimum public health standards by all providers and health facilities; 2. Continuation of presumptive TB screening while observing physical distancing and strict infection control procedures: 3. Implementation of TB bio-safety and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures by all staff in TB laboratories and healthcare facilities; 4. Strict compliance of TB diagnostic testing to Standard Precautions for Infection, Prevention and Control, and Laboratory Biosafety Standards; 5. Implementation of flexible treatment management and provision of anti-TB medicines by healthcare facilities to enrolled TB patients; 6. Use of digital technology for TB service delivery and other programmatic purposes; and Provision of feedback by Health Centers/Rural Health Units and public hospitals to the City Health Office/Provincial Health Office and Centers for Health Development on adherence to the guidelines. =All DILG Regional Directors, Provincial Directors, and field personnel including the BARMM Minister of Local Government are hereby directed to cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this advisory with attached DOH Administrative Order No. 2020-0056. For information and compliance. UNDERSECRETARY sernfilo C. FLORECE, JR. Sa