Tuberculosis: WHO official expresses concern over rate of spread in Anambra

Tuberculosis (TB) has affected no fewer than two in 1,000 residents of Anambra, an official of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has revealed.

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Dr Ufuomah Eduh, the Zonal TB Officer of the organisation for the south eastern part of the country, announced this on Wednesday in Awka.

He was making a remark at the end of a week-long training of general health workers on Direct Observed Treatment Short-course expansion for TB, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer.

According to him, Direct Observed Treatment Short-course is a strategy for managing and controlling TB with the primary goal of curing patients and preventing the development of drug resistance.

“We are supporting Anambra to strengthen access to TB services and to help reduce the burden of TB,” Eduh said.

Similarly, Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, Programme Manager, the Anambra Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Management, said that the training was to ensure that health workers could manage TB cases effectively.

“We appreciate Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration for the commitment and determination to eliminate TB in the state through training and retraining.

“We have had several Direct Observed Treatment Short-course on the management of the disease to ensure that the health workers do their jobs efficiently and seamlessly.

“900 Direct Observed Treatment Short-course facilities have been established in Anambra to ensure increased access to TB treatment.

“I encourage participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the weeklong training to perform their duties diligently and contribute to the state’s progress,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Thomas Onazi, the Deputy Director, National TB Control Programme, said that the training would enhance the capacity of the general health workers in the state.

According to him, TB is not a death sentence and it is preventable and treatable.

The training was in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Health and supported by the Global Fund.

Medical personnel note that TB is an airborne disease caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

They note that it usually attacks the lungs and could damage other parts of the body.

According to them, TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes or talks.

NAN/Wumi