Barely seven years to achieving the agenda 2030 on Tuberculosis eradication, medical practitioners have taken their sensitization campaign to the streets of Abuja to create awareness on the curablity of the disease in the country.
The sensitization campaign is part of the lineup of activities for the commemoration of March 24th World TB day by Tuberculosis Prevention Partners.
Speaking during the walkout, the Director of the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmad Muhammad Ozi said the exercise is aimed at enlightening the public on tuberculosis-related diseases and charting better ways of prevention to enhance health for all.
In his word, Ozi said “We are thinking of totally eradicating Tuberculosis by the year 2030, but as it is, we still have a long way to go in Nigeria because from what we had last year, we were able to notify over 280, 000 new cases out of about 400, 000 cases. We have covered up to 40 percent of the notification rate, so we still have a long way to go. We will try as much as we can so we will get the Tuberculosis response program to the nearest minimum.
“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 notification rate, but now we are almost up to 50 percent, and our target is 100 percent so everybody with Tuberculosis will get help and treated. Everybody around them is put on preventive treatment, so they don’t come down with the disease.
“From the policies of the Federal Government, we are 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.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Project Director of Tuberculosis, Breakthrough Action Nigeria Bolatito Aiyenigba said Nigerians are dying unnecessarily and ignorantly from a curable disease, hence encouraging all to imbibe in the spirit of testing for tuberculosis as it is free of charge.
According to her, the helpline 3340 is to avert suffering from the disease, thus urging the citizens to utilize the opportunity by calling the emergency number for directions
“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 program has created a national campaign tagged “Check Amoo, because who no go, no go know.
“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.
“The good thing with Tuberculosis is that the treatment is available and free, it can be cured,” said Bolatito.
World Tuberculosis day is celebrated every 24th of March globally, however, the roadshow which had representatives from the government and civil society organizations is to counter the low awareness of Tuberculosis programs in Nigeria
