By Gom Mirian
Nigeria has in the last year identified over 280,0000 new cases of tuberculosis out of about 400,000 cases notified in 2021, the ministry of health has said
The ministry while reiterating its commitment to eradicating Tuberculosis by the year 2030, said about 40 per cent of the notification rate was covered.
The roadshow aimed at creating awareness was witnessed by representatives from the government and civil society organizations working on preventing and eradicating Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Mr. Ahmad Muhammad Ozi, a Director working with the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, said this during a road show as part of activities mapped out to mark the 2023 world Tuberculosis day in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the government through its policies is working to ensure that Tuberculosis is prevented from the communities in the country.
“TB is a curable disease, and we have earmarked some of the policies that can influence TB control in Nigeria. For instance, the diagnosis of TB in every community in Nigeria is free.
“The policy also states that the treatment of the disease is also free.
“We are thinking of totally eradicating Tuberculosis by the year 2030.
“We have covered up to 40 per cent of the notification rate, so we still have a long way to go.
“We will try as much as we can to we will get the Tuberculosis response programme to the nearest minimum.
“We are not meeting the target for now because if we have over 400, 000 cases, we are supposed to notify, and we are notifying just 280 0000, we have a lot of missing cases in the country”, said Ozi.
On his part, the Deputy Project Director of Tuberculosis – Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Bolatito Aiyenigba, advised Nigerians to get tested for Tuberculosis since is free.
Aiyenigba, however, lamented that some Nigerians are dying in silence, and urged those suffering from the disease to call the 3340 helplines.
She said: “Globally, there is a drive to end Tuberculosis; we believe we can end the disease because there is a concerted effort globally to put resources into science in a bid to get rid of the disease.
“With support from partners, the Federal Government has made a great effort to get the new tools and appropriate diagnostic materials and let the people know that these things are there.
“For a long time in Nigeria, testing for TB has been free, but people don’t know, so they are suffering in silence.
” In other to address that, the national programme has created a national campaign tagged “Check Amoo, because who no go, no go know”. The good thing about Tuberculosis is that the treatment is available and free, and it can be cured.
“We have been making progress, and data from the National Tuberculosis Control Programme you will see the progress we have made over the years.
“Before, they said we had only 24 per cent notification rate, but now we are almost up to 50 per cent, and our target is 100 per cent so everybody with Tuberculosis will get help and be treated.
“Everybody around them is put on preventive treatment, so they don’t come down with the disease.” She said
