The Myth Of Tuberculosis Fact Or Farce
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Tuberculosis or TB, a treatable infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs is presently a major concern in Nigeria
The bacteria that causes the disease is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Though the government of Nigeria is devising ways of totally eradicating Tuberculosis by the year 2030, it still has a long way to go as factors such as ignorance and stigmatisation may still hinder access to treatment.
According to a statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year, about 245,000 Nigerians die from the disease, and about 590,000 new cases occur while around 140,000 of this figure are also HIV-positive.
It is exactly seven years to achieving the set 2030 agenda on Tuberculosis eradication in Nigeria, but many citizens still think they are infected because an enemy sent or that it came as punishment from the gods.
This no doubt is why some Medical Practitioners drawn from various strata of the society took their sensitization campaign to the streets of Abuja to create awareness on the curablity of the disease.
The sensitization campaign was part of the lineup of activities for the commemoration of March 24th World TB day by Tuberculosis Prevention Partners.
The day is celebrated on 24th March every year to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of the preventable disease and call for accelerated action to end it.
This is in commemoration of the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing the disease which till date, remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers.
This year’s theme , “Yes, we can end TB,” according to WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, highlights the need to ensure equitable access to prevention and care, in line with the drive towards Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
She said, Nigeria is an example of a country that managed to significantly increase national TB case finding by 50% in 2021 using innovative approaches such as the expansion of the daily observed treatment protocols, use of digital technologies, Community Active Case Finding, and enlisting Public Private Mix initiatives.
The Regional Director called on African leaders to work together to develop innovative approaches to reach vulnerable populations to ensure they have access to quality TB care and management so the continent can reach the Sustainable Development Goals targets by 2030.
Speaking during the walk, to sensitise the populace, the Director of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmad Muhammad Ozi, said the exercise was aimed at enlightening the public on tuberculosis-related diseases and charting better ways of preventing the disease to enhance health for all.
According to him, last year, Nigeria was able to notify over 280, 000 new cases out of about 400, 000 cases and they have covered up to 40 percent of the notification rate, but still have a long way to go.
He said they will try as much as they to get the Tuberculosis response program to the barest minimum adding that data from the National Tuberculosis Control Programme shows they had only 24 notification rate previouslyl, but now have up to 50 percent, even though their target is 100 percent so everybody with Tuberculosis will get help and be treated just as everybody around them is put on preventive treatment, so they don’t come down with the disease.
Dr. Ozi said from the policies of the Federal Government, they are working to ensure that Tuberculosis is prevented from every community in the country.
He emphasised that TB is a curable disease, and as such, they have earmarked some of the policies that can influence TB control in Nigeria to include ensuring that the diagnosis of TB in every community in Nigeria is free. The policy also states that the treatment of the disease is free.”
The Deputy Project Director of Tuberculosis, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Bolatito Aiyenigba, said Nigerians are dying unnecessarily and ignorantly from a curable disease and encouraged all to imbibe the spirit of testing for tuberculosis as it is free of charge.
She said, they created a helpline -3340 to avert suffering from the disease, and urged the citizenry to utilize the opportunity by calling the emergency number for directions
According to her, for a long time in Nigeria, testing for TB has been free, but people did not know, so they have been suffering in silence and to address this, the national program created a national campaign tagged “Check Am oo, because who no go, no go know.
Bolatito, is optimistic that the end of the disease is at hand because there is a concerted global effort to put resources into science in a bid to getting rid of the disease.
She said this can happen with support from partners, as the Federal Government of Nigeria has made great efforts at getting the new tools and appropriate diagnostic materials as well, letting the people know that those things are there.
The road show in commemoration of this year’s celebration of the World TB Day in Nigeria with representatives from the government and civil society organizations was aimed at countering the Myths surrounding Tuberculosis and create awareness about the Tuberculosis programs in the countryto showcase that ending Tuberculosis is feasible with the decline in TB deaths and cases, and the elimination of economic and social burdens associated with it.
