The Senior Programme Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, IHVN, Ms Florinda Olawusi, has disclosed that no fewer than 300 patients died of tuberculosis, out of over 6,000 cases recorded in Ogun State in 2023.
According to Vanguard reports, Olawusi made the disclosure in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while speaking with newsmen, on the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day.
She expressed concern over a 100 percent rise from 2019, adding that according to data from the IHVN and USAID TB-LON 3 project for Ogun State, 3000 cases were recorded in 2019. She noted that 95 percent of the patients were already placed on treatment.
She said: “Since the inception of TB long 3 project in Ogun state which started in 2019, Ogun State was diagnosing a little over 3,000 cases annually but presently from 2019 till now for example last year in 12 months, they were able to diagnose over 6,000 cases which is a huge increment. There is over a 100 percent increase in the number of cases diagnosed.
“The treatment lasts for six months. So, what that means is that after six months, once the duration of the treatment is complete, the patient leaves the program. As at last year, we were able to identify 6,000 cases and 95 percent of them were placed on treatment,” she said.
Responding to questions on the number of deaths, she said “there have been some TB related deaths in the past year, a little over 300 patients died from TB related causes last year in Ogun state.”
The State Programme Manager for TB and Leprosy Control, Olusola Taiwo, said “One of the predisposing factors for TB infection is staying in over crowded environment, so people should stay where there is good ventilation, indiscriminate pit, they should try put on their coughing etiquette to prevent the spreading of TB germs.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Omotunde Ogunlaja, advised residents to speak out and contact nearest health facility if symptoms are suspected
“We just like to tell the residents that TB is curable and we can end it so anybody that shows the signs, coughing for two weeks or more should go to the health facilities and get themselves accessed.
“ The assessment is free and treatment is free and also those on the treatment should not be set aside. They should use their drugs” she added.
Cases in Kaduna
Similarly, the Kaduna State Government has also said that 32,297 cases of the disease were detected in the state in 2023, but has improved in tuberculosis case detection, and reduced the risk of spreading the disease
The State Commissioner for Health, Umma Kaltume-Ahmed spoke at a press conference to mark World Tuberculosis day celebration in Kaduna on Thursday.
She said: “Tuberculosis case detection in the state has increased, from 21,557 cases in 2022 to 32,297 in 2023. “This represents an increase of 49.8 per cent compared to 2022. This case detection rate represents 159 per cent of the state TB case detection target. “
She said the development showed a significant improvement in case finding compared to 53 per cent obtained in 2022, and reflects the improved support the State TB program receives from the State Government and the development partners.
The Commissioner said, the 2024 World TB Day themed “Yes, We Can End TB”, and with the Slogan is “No Gree For TB, Check Am O.” is a follow-up call to the commitment made by Global leaders at the UN high-level meeting on TB in New York 4 years ago to support the target to end the TB epidemic by the year 2030 via supporting the scale-up of TB access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment, sustainable financing including research and ending stigma and discrimination against people affected by TB.
According to the Commissioner, tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers. “Each Day, over 4,100 people lose their lives to TB, and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease.
“Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 66 million lives since 2000. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed years of progress made in the fight to end TB. For the first time in over a decade, TB deaths increased in 2020.
“This conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve global leaders’ commitments to end TB.
“This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put End TB progress at risk, and to ensure equitable access to prevention and care in line with WHO’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. She added that more investment will save millions more lives, accelerating the end of the Tuberculosis epidemic.
“We must continue to remind ourselves of the dreaded effect of Tuberculosis, which continues to cause untold morbidity and mortality among our populace. World TB Day provides a unique opportunity for continuous sensitization of Tuberculosis. She said the state has scaled up the number of facilities providing TB services to 78 percent coverage.
“We will continue supporting this until every facility in the State provides TB services. She also said the State’s treatment success rate is about 98.4 percent indicating that the diagnosed cases of TB were managed successfully,” she assured.
“The fight against TB is a collective one. I call on all well-meaning residents of Kaduna State and public and private organizations to join the Kaduna State Government in investing in ending TB and saving lives. I also call on everyone to use the opportunity and get tested when coughing for two or more weeks. Be rest assured that the disease is curable, and the diagnosis and treatment are free and readily available in the state,” she said.
– Vanguard
