World TB day: stakeholders urge more effort to end pandemic
Chinedu Ojobo
In commemoration of the world TB day, the Federal ministry of health ‘national Tuberculosis and Leprosy control Program’ in collaboration with Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, has raised awareness on the devastating health, social and economic impact of tuberculosis and urge the acceleration of efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
Speaking at a media conference held in Abuja today, Dr Adebola Lawanson congratulates stop TB partnership and other TB agencies in Nigeria for the effort so far in fighting TB. She also encouraged Nigerians to visit any government hospital and any DOTS centre in the country when ever they notice any symptom of TB.
The theme for world TB Day 2020 as adopted for Nigeria is ‘It’s time to end TB in Nigeria’.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by germs that are released into the air by a TB person. Tuberculosis is an airborne disease and the number one infectious killer disease in the world with records of nearly 3,975 death each day.
Tb is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria.
Anyone can have TB disease, but people who have a weakened immune system like the elderly people, children, persons with diabetes mellitus, HIV, cancer are at higher risk.
TB is curable if detected early and treated properly. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best form of TB prevention.
In Nigeria, TB diagnosis and treatment is free in all government owned facilities. Diagnosis and TB drugs are also free and available in all DOTS centre’s nation wide.
Symptoms of TB include: continuous cough lasting for 2 weeks or more; sweating at night even when the weather is cold; difficultly in breathing; chest pain and blood stained sputum.
