Tasi’u Hassan
Adamawa State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, in collaboration with partners, would conduct active Tuberculosis case findings in selected communities of the state and free HIV and Hepatitis B testing in commemoration of this year’s World TB Day.
The Program Manager, Adamawa State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme, Dr. Boniface Gundiri, who disclosed this during the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day celebration in Yola, reiterated the need for people to promptly report cases of Tuberculosis to health centers as early diagnosis and treatment is key to stopping the disease.
According to the World Health Organization, World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 every year to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social, and economic consequences of Tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
Explaining that TB diagnosis and treatment is free everywhere in the country, Dr. Gundiri says “Adamawa state has 505 Dots facilities, 60 AFB Microscopy Centres, 9 gene Xpert site (12 gap) 4 of the gene Xpert site have been integrated for EID, 4 TB-LAMP Machines, 1 DRTB treatment centre and 1 Zonal Reference Laboratory (NEZRL)”.
While noting that in Nigeria, 432 people die of TB every day, the Programme Manager revealed, “In 2023, Adamawa State diagnosed and placed on treatment 5, 643 Drug Sensitive TB, (DSTB), 327 TB/HIV coinfection, and 75 drug resistance TB (DRTB) patients”.
Dr. Boniface Gundiri identified weight loss or failure to gain weight, excessive night sweats, persistent chest pain, and coughing for two weeks or more as the major symptoms of TB, advising people to avoid overcrowding or use facemasks in overcrowded places as Tuberculosis spreads easily where people gather in crowds or where people live in crowded conditions.
Speaking, the Adamawa State Commissioner of Health, Chief Felix Tangwami, expressed concern over the increase in the number of TB cases in Adamawa state and attributed the setback to a lack of commitment and proficiency from some health personnel.
While charging health workers to be committed to their duties, Chief Tangwami appealed to partners to include the renovation of health offices in their annual work plans, so that health officers will work in comfortable environments.
The representatives of development partners including WHO, AHNI, SFH, PRO Health, and LTRI, reiterated their resolve to reduce TB, particularly among pediatrics, and told people that the disease is preventable and treatable.
During the event, the government and the partners agreed that with strong collaboration and commitment, we can achieve this year’s theme of World Tuberculosis Day, which says YES, We Can End TB, No Gree For TB.
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