Foundation decries high TB burden among Nigerians

The Jannah Health Foundation (JHF), a non governmental organisation, has expressed concern over the high burden of Turberclosis (TB) among vulnerable Nigerians. Dr Stephen John, the Founder of the group, stated this at a validation meeting with health stakeholders, in Yola on Thursday.

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He said the disease has been highly infectious public health issue in spite of achieving 59 per cent treatment coverage in the country.

John said that about 280,000 people are presently living with the disease and over 300,000 died of TB in the country.

“High rate of TB have been reported among certain populations termed ‘Key and Vulnerable Populations in Nigeria. The vulnerable group included nomads; refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), miners, people living with HIV, slum dwellers, inmates of correctional facilities, children, healthcare workers, among others,” he said.

He said that about 3,500 TB cases had been diagnosed annually in Adamawa.

John, who is also a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ambassador, said the vulnerable populations were at higher risk of TB infection due to poor access to health services, low level awareness on the disease, poor vaccination coverage, malnutrition, living in poorly ventilated and overcrowded tents.

The Foundation, he said, had detected thousands of TB cases since it began interventions in the past 10 years in the country.

According to him, the Foundation in partnership with Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and Geneva, implemented the JHF program, adding that it helped in identifying barriers to accessing TB services.

On the validation meeting, John said it was designed to showcase the activities of the JHF in identifying the target population for effective program planning.

NAN/Wumi