𝐏𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐎𝐎 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐥𝐯𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐁 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞

Fresh from completing a week-long medical mission in Albay, United States-based Filipino physician and 2024 Presidential Awardee Dr. Elvy G. Barroso paid a courtesy visit to Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson and Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II earlier this afternoon.

Dr. Barroso, founder of the Fight Against Tuberculosis Among Filipinos Foundation, Inc., was joined by her husband, Prof. Roberto Acevedo, an epidemiologist and professor at the City University of New York and Long Island University. The couple met with the CFO leadership to present the outcomes of their recently concluded training and community screening project on latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) for household contacts of TB cases in Ligao City, Albay.

The initiative, held from June 30 to July 8, focused on capacitating local health providers and directly screening households in coordination with the National Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Ligao Women’s Club, and the City Government of Ligao. The week-long effort aimed to enhance community awareness, improve early detection, and strengthen the management of LTBI cases—often overlooked despite their critical role in TB transmission prevention.

The mission follows a virtual training session led by Dr. Barroso on May 9, 2025, attended by local health personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) and Ligao City Health Office. Topics covered during the session included TB transmission, clinical differentiation between LTBI and active TB, diagnostic tools, and current WHO-aligned treatment protocols.

At the CFO, Dr. Barroso discussed the significance of continuous, community-rooted TB prevention, especially in areas with limited access to diagnostic and treatment services. Prof. Acevedo provided epidemiological context, underscoring the importance of early household-level interventions in breaking the chain of TB transmission.

In response, Secretary Ang expressed the Commission’s full support for Dr. Barroso’s continuing public health mission. The CFO also announced plans to formally enroll her initiative under the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) program, the agency’s flagship diaspora philanthropy mechanism that connects overseas Filipinos with development efforts in the Philippines.

The CFO also committed to facilitating introductions with foreign embassies in Manila, coordinating with the Department of Health, and engaging local professional medical organizations. These steps aim to scale up the reach of the program, mobilize additional resources, and ensure the long-term sustainability of TB-related interventions in underserved communities.

Dr. Barroso is among last year’s recipients of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) under the Banaag category, which recognizes overseas Filipinos who have rendered exceptional service to the Filipino people and the nation.