Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, has said government will sustain every intervention measures aimed at eliminating the scourge of tuberculosis in the state.
He described the theme for this year’s World tuberculosis day: “The Clock is Ticking” as apt and captured the need for increased action as
the world is running out of time to stamp it out.
Partnership with donor agencies
Dr Okpala who described government’s partnership with donor agencies in the fight against the disease as very meaningful, added that the state has continued to record positive gains and had gathered a lot of accolades over the years.
He stated that there was need to accelerate and end tuberculosis response to reach the target set by MDG Goals by the United Nations aimed at reaching 30 million people with preventive treatment by 2020.
According to him, an estimated sum of $13 million is to be raised through sustainable financing for TB response and research.
Awareness
The Commissioner fielded questions from newsmen shortly after a road show to create awareness about the disease and called on everyone to keep the promise by working to ensure a tuberculosis free state.
He disclosed that the state was among the 22 high burden states with the disease as it recorded over 3,000 new cases last year and assured of government’s commitment to control its spread to five.
The Deputy Programme Manager, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Burulli Ulcer Programme in Anambra State, Mr Edochie Ezebunafo, said the road show was necessary to educate people about what they need to know about the disease.
He described the disease as chronic and infectious and encouraged people suffering from the disease to access treatment in all health facilities in the state, adding that treatment is free and safe.
Ezebunafo said the more people are aware about tuberculosis, the sooner the burden would reduce.
Nneka Ukachukwu
