Nigeria ranks first in Africa with the highest burden of Tuberculosis (TB) and 11,817 of these TB cases were diagnosed and placed on treatment in Oyo State.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Taiwo Ladipo made this disclosure at the media briefing and flag-off of the community outreach on Tuberculosis for the year 2022 World TB day commemoration in Ibadan.
According to the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, Dr Ladipo stated that Oyo state is the 13th highest-burden state for TB within the country and in 2021 recorded the diagnosis and treatment of 11,817 clients, of which 388 of them had comorbidities of HIV and TB, signifying that the disease still exists in our communities and should be combated.
He added, “this occasion seeks to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world, and create awareness on the need to go for TB screening if there is the persistent cough of two weeks and or more.”
The Commissioner stated that the Oyo State government in ridden the community with TB offers free TB treatment in 564 health facilities across to state and is collaborating with its implementing partners to ensure free TB community outreach testing across the state.
The state, he said had virtually all the best diagnostic opportunities for TB in the country and therefore employs all those who have persistent cough last for at least two weeks and other symptoms of TB such as wasting and night sweats to avail themselves free opportunity to screen and receive free treatment if positive.
Dr Ladipo added, “the battle against the scourge of this disease is collective. It starts with you and I. Enlightenment in all our communities is the first step to attaining global goal eradication of TB.”
Cluster Consultant at World Health Organisation, Dr Dare Marcus, in a goodwill message on behalf of all partners working on TB in the state said at the time of discovering the germ that causes TB, three out of every seven people infected with the infection ends up dying.
Dr Marcus said individuals like the government should invest in curtailing the spread of the infection disease by sensitising persons in their community about TB and doing surveillance for TB to support its early detection and diagnosis in the community.
He then pledged the continuous support of WHO and other partners to the government to the government to end TB in the country and globally.
