Nasarawa State government says it’s has intensified awareness efforts in order to curb Tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
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Speaking during a press briefing to commemorate the World Tuberculosis week, in Lafia, the state capital, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, explained that the awareness campaign is very crucial as there are low TB case finding in the State, which might result in the spread of the infection.
He said that the TB disease has a serious negative impact on the economy generally, as such all hands must be on deck to end the spread of TB in Nasarawa State, and the Nation at large.
Dr. Gwamna further said that, “Nasarawa State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, The Executive Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule is committed to ensuring good healthcare delivery for its teaming population, thereby providing a continually budget for the TB Programme in the State”.
“Ending TB in Nasarawa State can be achieved through awareness creation and health education”, Dr Gwamna noted.
“This administration will look into the challenges with a view to putting in place strategies to bring about increase TB case detection and enrolling same on treatment”.
“We cannot continue to allow our children who are the leaders of tomorrow and the productive age group to be afflicted with this preventable and curable disease”.
“Both the diagnosis and treatment of TB is free”, he added.
The commissioner further appreciated it’s funding and technical partners and this is not limited to the following: Global Funds for AIDS,TB and Malaria(GFATM); World Health Organization(WHO); Institute of Human Virology-Nigeria(IHVN); Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH); United States Centre for Disease Control (US-CDC), Global Health Supply Chain–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM); Stop TB Partnership; KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, AIDS Health Foundation (AHF), The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) among others.
The State also appreciates the contributions of community based organizations (CBOs) being lead by Initiative for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (IPCD).
He said the treatment success rate for TB in the state for the 4th quarter of 2024 was 89%, yet to meet the target of 95% set by the National TB Control Programme, hence much still needs to be done.
Tuberculosis treatment by ‘Directly Observed Therapy, Short Course (DOTS) in Nasarawa State started in the year 2003 at ERCC Hospital Alushi, this was then the only TB Unit in the State.
He however shows the State Government commitments on its efforts in providing good quality and affordable healthcare services to its citizens.
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