The country director of the organisation, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against TB, said “we call on our political leaders to invest more on TB control, the civil society to continue to call for accountability and the media to always help in creating the needed awareness.

“It is a call to action to scale up research, funding, human rights and accountability to end TB in Nigeria.”

According to him, global efforts to combat TB saved an estimated 58 million lives since 2000 and reduced the mortality rate by 42 per cent.

Odume identified low TB case findings both in adults and children due to low treatment and poor knowledge about the diseases as the major challenge to total eradication of the disease.

Dr Adebola Lawanson, the National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), Federal Ministry of Health, said the disease posed great threat to the Nigerian health status.

She, therefore, reiterated government’s commitment toward ending TB, adding that vulnerable persons, particularly children and People with Disabilities (PWDs) should top the agenda in providing services that would eliminate the disease.

The coordinator disclosed that the Federal Government and partners would embark on community outreach and market sensistisation to enlighten the public on preventive measures and free treatment of tuberculosis.

“We have a toll free line — 08002255282 — to enable people to make calls and inquire about the treatment, which is free everywhere in the country with the aim of ending tuberculosis in the country.’’

Dr Ayodele Awe, Representative of WHO Nigeria, stressed the need to report any case of cough that exceeds two weeks for TB testing, screening and treatment.

On her part, Dr Temitayo Odusote, USAID Official, said Nigeria has only 398 machines for detecting TB, which was not sufficient to carter for the populace.

On his part, Sarki Dahiru, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said each member of the 360 house would acquire the machine for Tuberculosis diagnosis and rapid antibiotic sensitivity test.

Dahiru added that the machines would aide in supporting the existing ones to provide more access to testing  and rapid diagnosis of the disease.

Dr Ronke Agbaje from the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) described TB as the world’s deadliest infectious killer, and stressed the need for increased public awareness on the devastating social, economic and health impacts of the disease.

KNCV is an international centre of excellence for TB control that promotes effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context.

The foundation’s team of professionals cover a broad range of expertise such as programmatic TB control, research, clinical management, social science, education, digital health, and project management.

source: DailyTimes