LAGOS,Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –As the world marks World Tuberculosis Day, Health Commissioners of Kwara, Enugu, Borno, and Ogun states have urged citizens to be vigilant as tuberculosis remains a pressing concern in the country.
Kware State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam said that tuberculosis disease accounts for 1,869 deaths in the state in 2023.
Dr. El-Imam, said this during the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day event in Ilorin, with the theme “Yes! We Can End TB,” as she emphasised the global impact of the disease.
“Tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, primarily affects the lungs but can also target other parts of the body. Despite efforts to combat the disease, it remains a significant health challenge, with latent infections posing a risk of progression to active disease if left untreated,” she said
In Enugu, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, revealed that the state recorded 2,496 confirmed cases of tuberculosis in 2022, with data for 2023 still being collated. ‘
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He urged residents with persistent coughs to seek screening and treatment at healthcare facilities across the state.
“It is only when all active cases are treated that we can break the chain of transmission of Tuberculosis. The Kwara State Ministry of Health remains committed to finding cases of tuberculosis wherever they may be. We are intensifying community sensitisation and active case search using our well-established structures of community informants, surveillance officers, and community TB/HIV workers,” he said.
On his part, Commissioner of Health in Borno State, Prof. Baba Malam-Gana, said Nigeria bears a heavy burden in the fight against tuberculosis, as she ranks the first country in Africa and the sixth in the world in terms of tuberculosis cases.
“Nigeria reported 5,000 identified cases in 2023, with efforts underway to trace over 10,000 suspected cases across the state. Despite challenges posed by insurgency and displacement, the government is determined to provide tuberculosis services in all local government areas with the restoration of peace,” he said.
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The Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr. Tomi Coker who also spoke on the occasion of World TB Day said across the nation, tuberculosis remains a pressing concern.
He expressed worry over the increase in cases and reiterated the government’s commitment to providing free treatment through an extensive network of healthcare facilities.
As Nigeria struggles with the burden of tuberculosis, efforts to raise awareness, improve detection, and ensure access to treatment are paramount in the fight against this deadly disease.