It has been reported that 91,534 Nigerians are infected with with tuberculosis annually but sadly, several cases remain unreported, thereby making it difficult for the disease eradication. Also, Nigeria has been ranked 4th among 22 high tuberculosis burden countries in the world with 322 new persons estimated among 100,000 patients and 44 persons out of 100,000. This was revealed by Dr Mustapha Gidado, the country representative of Royal Dutch Tuberculosis Foundation during a sensitisation media workshop on the disease, it’s causes, symptoms, treatment and duration, as well as its prevention. Tuberculosis is a major threat to the existence of HIV and it is very important that both are treated simultaneously as already, 91,534 were notified of it in 2014, 85,891 adults, 5,643 children and 16,066 HIV positive individuals.”

He disclosed that there are over 6,000 health facilities across the 774 local governments in Nigeria providing tuberculosis services and they include private, faith-based, tertiary, secondary as well as primary healthcare centres. The disease which affects the chest can develop to a level of drug-resistant tuberculosis which takes “20 months for drugs intake and eight months of daily injections. However, research is on-going globally to reduce the drug intake to a lesser period for effective treatment.”