From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said a surge in the cases of tuberculosis in Borno necessitated training of local government health workers to prevent, detect and manage the disease.
WHO State Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Salisu in a remark at the opening of the training in Maiduguri, said the urgent need for the training came after the forum of northeast states commissioner of health meeting in January.
“Tuberculosis is also a disease of global concern and the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast has further heightened the situation in Borno State,” he said.
He puts tuberculosis case detection rate at 37 percent with treatment success rate estimated at 93 percent in 2023, quoting a data from the TB and Leprosy Control (TBL) Programme.
“Now, in February 2024, WHO has swung into action with a comprehensive package of interventions to improve the TB situation in the state,” he announced.
He said WHO will provide technical support, free drugs and commodities to ensure adequate case detection, treatment and data collection.
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that affect the lung, said director of public health, Dr Goni Abba who represented the commissioner of health, Prof Baba Malam Gana.
He assured Borno has 438 health facilities for the treatment of TB. He said government was working hard to upgrade some of theacilities destroyed by insurgents.
While explaining the detail of the training, WHO Acting Emergency Manager, Northeast Humanitarian Health Emergency Response, *Dr Kumshida Balami said 60 health managers from 27 local governments areas of Borno are participating in the 10 days training.
Participants Mohammed Umar, aTB Supervisor from Gwoza Local Government and Hauwa Inuway State quality assurance officer in Maiduguri, said the trading will improve their skill in early detection and management of the infectious disease.