2,500 OGUN RESIDENTS SUFFERS TUBERCULOSIS
2,500 OGUN RESIDENTS SUFFERS TUBERCULOSIS
Omooba Risawe
Ogun State Government has revealed that, 2,500 residents of the state are victims of tuberculosis,stressing that the disease was a chronic infectious that spread through the air and affect every part of the body particularly the lungs.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye made the reveallation on Friday at the World Tuberculosis Day held in Abeokuta.
Represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health,Dr Nafiu Aigoro,he said the figure was part of 600,000 Nigerians infected across the country.
The commissioner pointed out that the theme of the event ” UNITE TO END TB” was coming at the right time puting into consiederation the rate at which tuberculosis diseases was fast spreading through the air
He assured that, the disease control officers will increase the rate of finding tuberculosis cases across all local government areas.
“The State TB control officer will increase the rate of finding TB cases across the 20 Local Government to include the LCDA’.
‘It is important to note TB is a chronic infectious disease that spread through the air we breath which affects every part of the body especially the lungs, reason why we need to deploy the state officers on TB out to find more cases of TB in the state’,he emphasised.
In his good will message, the Lagos Regional Director/Senior Programme Manager for Country Director, KNCV/ United State Agency For International Development (USAID), Dr Nkem Chukwueme, who was represented by Mr. Chidubem Ogbudebe, appreciated the state government for joining in the laudable fight against TB disease, assuring the state of continuous support from KNCV TB Foundation and USAID.
He called on religious, community leaders and media to intesify the fight against TB in any Community they found themselves, saying that the emergence of drug resistence forms of TB cases calls for more accurate ways of controlling TB in the Country.
Calling on members of the public to report cases of caughf that is more than two weeks and above, the State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Officer,Olukayode Soyinka, said people should stay away from stigmatising people with TB rather encouraged them to visit the general hospital across the state for free screening and treatment or call the toll free TB line on 08002255282.
Meanwhile,highlight of the event includes a walk sensitising members of the community, free screening and treatment in comeroration of the World TB day.
