Follow Us on Google
From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
Tuberculosis (TB) Testing Week for Children.
Free Tuberculosis (TB) test is to be conducted in all the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi State under the TB Testing Week for Children.
The Wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajia Zainab Nasir Idris,who is the ‘Stop TB Champion’ of the State, who announced this at a news briefing in Birnin Kebbi, disclosed that,the official launching of the free testing will be done in Maiyama local government this week.
According to her, “Tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable and curable disease that mostly affects the lungs and is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A person needs to inhale only a germ to become infected.
“All the activities lined up for the week are aimed at enhancing childhood TB detection and treatment through innovative provision of integrated services.
“There will be free TB testing for all children who have been coughing for more than two weeks, and a concurrent free HIV testing for all presumptive cases seen in all the testing centres throughout the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, and appropriate linkage for continuing treatment and support for positive cases detected “, she said.
The Governor’s wife said, there would be intensive mobilisation and TB awareness campaign among community and health practitioners including sensitisation among the populace with high burden of TB in the state.
Idris ,who commended the WHO, other implementing partners, Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme for their support and cooperation towards achieving success for the exercise, said as the TB Champion the State,she will be dedicated to ensure children get the vaccine.
She said: “In my capacity as Stop the TB Champion of Kebbi State, I pledge my commitment and remain dedicated to this cause, ‘as every child deserves a healthy start to life’,”.
She urged traditional rulers, mothers, caregivers and all communities to participate actively in the programme and avail themselves of the free testing opportunity for the benefit of children.
