SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
Oyo State has been ranked 13th tuberculosis burden state with reported cases of 8,101 patients in 2020.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello, at the inauguration of a community outreach and motorised campaign on Tuberculosis for the year 2021 World TB day commemoration on Wednesday in Ibadan.
He said among the 51,731 individuals presumptively screened for TB in 2020, 327 also had TB and HIV co-infection.
Bello stated that Nigeria ranked the 6th among the 30 high TB burden countries and first in Africa, while Oyo State accounts for the 13th high TB burden states within the country, hence the need for aggressive awareness creation and case finding to end the scourge of TB in the state.
Bello said individuals with persistent cough of two weeks or more should get screened for TB since its tests is free and if confirmed positive for TB, receive free treatment.
According to him, “There are 539 health facilities offering directly observed treatment for TB (DOT centres) and 10 Genexpert laboratories across the state where TB testing and treatment occur.”
He said the present administration in the state was giving priority attention to the Health sector, and, therefore, called on the people to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the government to ensure that that they live healthy.
Bello stressed the need for individuals to be their brothers keepers by ensuring everyone free access to community awareness screening presently ongoing across the 33 LGAs to reduce the TB burden in the state.
Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Muftau Ayoola, said eradicating TB, an infectious disease, require a multisectoral approach and with the full involvement of the community members.
Mrs Toyin Afachang, state coordinator, Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, educating traders at the Sango Market, said the organization is currently working in 12 among the 33 local government areas in the state, saying that TB endemic areas in the 12 councils have been delineated and adequate steps were being taken to prevent and manage this infectious disease.