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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The Borno State Government has rolled out a new approach to halt the spread of tuberculosis in the area.
Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Prof Mala Gana, has warned that TB could be a big threat to Borno, neighbouring states and African nations due to its location.
The new approach, according to the commissioner, includes aggressive sensitisation and routine immunisation to end tuberculosis, the world’s oldest and deadliest disease.
“We don’t want TB to be a threat to us in Borno, or to neighbouring states, as well as countries around us.”
Prof Gana said the theme of this year: ‘Yes We can End TB,’ should be a commitment, not only by the government and partners, but also by all stakeholders including survivors, religious leaders and households.
The commissioner said Borno captured only 5,000 out of the 16,000 people suspected to be having TB in the past years. He, however, expressed joy that the infected persons will now have a sigh of relief due to the availability of diagnostic machines and free drugs for treatment.
He appealed to people to bring their children for vaccination. “We only need one immunisation in life time and it is free,” he disclosed
He commended the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the training of health personnel in the 27 local governments, UNICEF and Global Fund.
The WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Salisu, said the World TB Day was not only to raise awareness, but also to reflect on the progress recorded in the fight against TB, and acknowledge the challenges from the diagnosis, as well as the treatment.
