The National Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), Dr Chukwuma Anyaike has said that Nigeria remains among the high burden countries for Tuberculosis (TB) globally.
A recent estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that TB killed 156,000 Nigerians and afflicted 452,000 in 2020.
Dr. Anyaike made this known while speaking on activities lined up for the World Tuberculosis Day 2023 with theme: “Yes! We can end TB”.
The World TB Day is celebrated every year on March 24 to inspire hope and encourage high-level leadership, increased investments, faster uptake of new WHO recommendations, adoption of innovations, accelerated action and multisectoral collaboration to combat the TB epidemic.
Anyaike said there is need for continuous awareness towards putting an end to preventable and curable diseases like tuberculosis and to address the needles deaths and infirmities in the country.
TB, he said, remains a huge burden in the country which can be prevented, diagnosed, treated and cured.
Anyaike called on media practitioners to extend the word ‘TB’ to ‘tuberculosis’, noting that most Nigerians were unaware of the enormous burden of the disease and its symptoms.
Also speaking, Dr Bethrand Odume Executive Director, KNCV Nigeria, said:”Teachers play a crucial role in educating the community about Tuberculosis and its prevention.
“We plan to organise training sessions for teachers in schools to increase their knowledge about Tuberculosis and to help them educate their students,” he said.
Odume, who is also the Chairperson of the 2023 National World Tuberculosis Day Planning Committee, said that there would be a Road Show, taking off from the Wuse Market on March 22.
He advocated urgent investment of resources, support and care to ensure universal access to TB care for research.
He said: “This is especially critical in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflict and socioeconomic crisis that 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.
Odume said there has been a sharp decrease in TB prevalence over the years, with advancement in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and stressed the need to further expand access to TB diagnosis.
