Tackling tuberculosis scourge the Ogun way

TUBERCULOSIS, or tuberculosis, as it is commonly called, is a contagious infection that usually attacks the lungs. It can also spread to other parts of the body, like the brain and spine. A type of bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes it. It is spread through the air, just like a cold or the flu. When someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, talks, laughs, or sings, tiny droplets that contain the germs are released. If you breathe in these nasty germs, you get infected.

tuberculosis is contagious, but it is not easy to catch. The germs grow slowly. You usually have to spend a lot of time around a person who has it. That is why it is often spread among co-workers, friends and family members.

According to figures released by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and Challenge tuberculosis, globally, there were an estimated 10.4 million new cases of tuberculosis in 2015, out of which 5.9 million (56 per cent) were among men aged 15 years; 3.5 million (34 per cent) were among women aged 15 years; 1.0 million (10 per cent) were among children aged 15 years.

In 2015, there were an estimated 1.2 million new HIV positive tuberculosis cases (11 per cent of all tuberculosis cases). Sadly enough, 1.4 million tuberculosis patients out of the 10.4 million new cases of tuberculosis died from tuberculosis in 2015.

The USAID also made it known that Nigeria is a high burden country for tuberculosis, DR-tuberculosis and HIV associated tuberculosis. It said that in 2015, Nigeria had the fourth highest incidence of tuberculosis (after India, Indonesia and China) among the 22 high burden countries in the world and the first highest incidence of tuberculosis in Africa.

In 2015, there were said to be an estimated 90,584 tuberculosis cases in Nigeria, out of which 100,000 (17.5 per cent) were infected with HIV.

It is inexcusable that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians die every year due to this disease.

To ensure that no Nigerian die of tuberculosis anymore, the federal and Ogun State governments, recently launched a health initiative, tagged “Wellness On Wheels” (WOW) to boost the detection and treatment of tuberculosis in the state.

The initiative is designed to offer free TB testing service on wheel in different communities in the state in conjunction with the USAID, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and Challenge TB.

At the launch of the scheme in Abeokuta on September 29, 2017, Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the initiative was in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government agenda in bringing healthcare delivery to the door step of every Nigerian through a specialised mobile clinic.

He said Ogun is the first among the 36 states to key into the scheme. He, therefore, called for urgent and concerted efforts by governments at all levels to end the life-threatening scourge.

Assuring that TB would soon become a thing of the past in the country, Adewole said tests as well as treatments for the ailment were free, while advising the people not to stigmatise anyone infected by the disease since it was curable.

The health minister was optimistic that the “Wellness On Wheels” initiative would drastically reduce the treatment period of TB from its usual 20 months to two months.

While describing the initiative as a unique collaborative project, he conferred the title of “Health Ambassador of Nigeria” on Governor Amosun for his laudable achievements in the area of efficient healthcare delivery. He thanked the governor for ensuring improved health care delivery services to the citizenry through the upgrade of medical facilities across the state.

Governor Amosun, on his part, pledged his administration’s commitment at ensuring that TB was brought to zero prevalence rates in the state, as he charged the state health workers to properly maintain the mobile clinic facilities so as to serve its purpose.

Amosun also assured that the state would procure the TB mobile truck in order to take the campaign and treatment of TB to all the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the state.

While appreciating the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in the state to pilot the initiative, Governor Amosun pledged to take the campaign to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for his colleagues to key into the initiative.

The Challenge TB Nigeria, with funding from the USAID, is introducing the innovative TB mobile truck. The truck, which is a one-stop-shop for the diagnosis and treatment of TB, will not only provide a state-of-the-art efficient TB screening, but services through the truck will bring healthcare to the door steps of the people of Ogun State.

The 20-feet lead container is equipped with an X-ray machine and two GeneXpert machines. The truck has two separate compartments; the X-ray room for screening of clients with chest X-ray and a GeneXpert laboratory for the diagnosis of TB among persons presumed to have TB.

These mobile diagnostic units will improve access to TB services by bringing TB screening and diagnosis to the doorstep of clients as a one-stop-shop. This will ensure early diagnosis and early treatment of TB and contribute to halting the transmission of TB in the entire Ogun State. It will also improve the health-seeking behaviour of the people through the health messages provided in the course of the campaigns.

The Wellness On Wheels campaigns should be carried out in other parts of the country. Ogun State is purchasing one of the only two TB mobile trucks in Nigeria, while the second truck will begin its campaign in Nasarawa State in a couple of weeks.

Nigerians should be knowledgeable about TB diagnosis, treatment and drugs, so that we can successfully reduce the number of deaths each year and hopefully eliminate the disease for good.

• Durojaiye is the Special Adviser (Information and Strategy), to the Ogun State Governor.

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