SP OKs MOA with PBSP for implementation of PMDT program

THROUGH an ordinance, the 19th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy authorized City Mayor Oscar Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

This covers the collaboration of the parties in the implementation of the Programmatic Management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT) in the city.

In his letter to the legislative body, Mayor Moreno said PBSP is the principal recipient of the grant from Global Fund (GF) under the framework agreement or grant confirmation between the parties, implementing the Advancing Client-centered Care and Expanding Sustainable Services for TB (ACCESS TB) also known as GF project.

He said PBSP shall provide GeneXpert (GX) machine to the city to be used at the city-owned Lapasan Health Center, a facility where quality clinical and laboratory services are provided that are necessary in the implementation of the GF project to combat Tuberculosis, particularly the drug-resistant strain.

Under the MOA, PBSP shall ensure that all identified GX operators are duly trained by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL); provide laboratory supplies, equipment, office furniture and fixtures as per the approved budget by the GF.

It shall facilitate installation of the laboratory equipment, facilitate and ensure preventive and corrective maintenance of laboratory equipment provided by PBSP for the project, and ensure the uninterrupted provision of laboratory supplies.

For its part, the city, as the implementing partner, shall ensure the continuous operations of the facility even if support for the project has ceased. In this regard, the city shall exert efforts to ensure the continuity of the program in coordination with the Department of Health-National Tuberculosis Program (DOH-NTP).

The implementing partner ensures that the facility, as an Xpert Site, shall release GX results within one day from the time specimen is received for processing; provide an organic staff who will operate the GX machine and ensure that the said staff is trained to perform the Xpert MTB/Rif processing, among others.