USAID, ASR Africa renovate TB treatment centres in seven states

The United States Agency for International Development, in partnership with the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, have renovated not less than 10 Tuberculosis Treatment centres in identified Primary Health Care centres across seven states in the country.

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Speaking at the handover of one of the 10 renovated centres, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, said the partnership objectives include curbing tuberculosis and HIV in Nigeria and addressing Sexual and Gender-based Violence, through supporting survivors with the provision of dignity kits in USAID-supported Sexual Assault Response Center.

He revealed that a donation of $500,000 was drawn from the ASR Africa’s Fund for Social Development and Renewal to cater for some of the partnership objectives.

Udoh explained that the donation was utilised for the provision of 11 loop-mediated isothermal amplification diagnostic machines, also known as TB-LAMPs, laboratory reagents and consumables, as well as 1,200 dignity kits for survivors of gender-based violence in selected states.

He said, “With the installation of the TB machines, over 22,108 samples have already been taken in all the centres combined, out of which confirmed positive cases are receiving expert medical treatment.”

ASR Africa renovated the centres in Kano, Rivers, Katsina, Bauchi, Anambra, Oyo, and Lagos States, under its HIV/TB Intervention Support programme as part of an effort to mitigate the huge burden of tuberculosis in the country.

According to the World Health Organisation, “Nigeria has the highest number of TB cases in Africa and accounts for 4.6 per cent of the global TB burden.

“Nearly 30 people die from TB in Nigeria, despite effective treatments being available.”

Udoh, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Chairman of BUA Group and Founder of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, applauded the USAID team for their intervention and their partnership with the Federal government of Nigeria in the eradication of tuberculosis in the country.

Applauding the USAID team for their intervention and their partnership with the Government of Nigeria in the eradication of TB, Udoh commended governments of the benefiting states and respective agencies who worked to deliver on the project’s success.

The Mission Director, USAID Nigeria, Anne Patterson, represented by Deputy Director, HIV/TB Office, USAID Nigeria, Omosalewa Oyelaran, acknowledged the Founder of ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for collaborating with the international body in the fight against TB and HIV in Nigeria.

Oyelaran stressed that the partnership with ASR Africa Initiative has provided critical support to reducing the burden of TB and ensuring a better quality of life for those affected.

On her part, the Mosan Okunola LCDA Chairperson, Princess Olabisi Adebayo appreciated ASR Africa for the initiative to enable access to quick TB diagnosis and treatment.

“We will take ownership of this facility and embark on advocacy exercises within the LCDA to ensure proper education about the danger of tuberculosis and the available treatment courtesy of ASR Africa,” she stated.