Over 40 teachers and 476 students coming from ERDA Technical and Vocational High School in Pandacan, Manila took part in joining Caltex’s cause in promoting tuberculosis awareness. The volunteers were trained, and are now officially a part of the “Caltex Labanan ang TB para Tsuper Healthy” campaign. Spearheaded by Caltex marketer Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), the advocacy was designed to raise awareness and bust myths about TB in partnership with city health offices in Manila, Makati and Quezon City.
Dr. Juliet C Recidoro, the Manila City Health Office District 6 TB Coordinator, personally trained the ERDA volunteers in prevention, early detection, and treatment of the disease. To spread their newly-acquired knowledge, ERDA volunteer teams will conduct in-school training and visit adjacent barangays into the next school year armed with Caltex anti-TB flyers, stickers and flip charts. ERDA is also open to partnerships with other schools to form a community of anti-TB volunteers to reduce the number of TB cases in Pandacan.
Further reinforcing the TB-free campaign was the addition of sputum tests as part of the school’s medical screening for all on-the-job training students starting next school year. Fifth year high school students will spend an average of 300 hours or 3 months in their respective workplaces. ERDA Tech High School Principal Mark Magsalin said, “ERDA Tech values its reputation and relationship with various companies honing the skills and utilizing the service of our students. We realize that TB awareness should begin in us. And so we take full responsibility for our students by ensuring each one is TB free.”
“Like Chevron, we also value the members of the community. ERDA Tech’s three year involvement in this campaign has brought awareness to 662 persons which shows that we are serious in helping sustain the project’s momentum of creating further awareness and dispelling misconceptions about TB,” added Magsalin.
Chevron Philippines Inc pioneered the TB awareness campaign in 2009 to protect public transport workers (PTW) from this dreaded disease, all in partnership with select transport groups and the local government units of Makati, Manila and Quezon City. The campaign has then protected more than public transport workers, with the help of 57 trainor-PTWs certified by CHOs.