Tuberculosis: FG kicks off WOW initiative in Ogun

The Federal Government, on Friday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, kicked off the Wellness on Wheels (WOW), initiative, to provide a state of the art efficient diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) on wheels in the country.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was joined by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the event, commissioned the 20-feet truck, equipped with diagnostic equipment, which will serve as one-top-shop for the diagnosis and treatment of ailment.

Adewole said the initiative, is in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s agenda, to bring healthcare delivery to the door step of every Nigerian.

He revealed that about 600,000 cases of TB are recorded yearly, with only a 100,000 being detected in the country, adding that this necessitated the urgent and intentional intervention of the Federal Government.

Assuring that cases of TB will soon become a thing of the past in the country, the minister stated that the WOW initiative would drastically reduce it’s treatment period from the usual 20 months.

Describing the initiative as a unique collaborative project, the minister thanked Amosun for helping to improve the health of the citizens of the state as well as supporting and developing the medical facilities across the state.

In his speech, the governor pledged his administration’s commitment at ensuring zero TB case in the state, charging health workers to properly maintain the mobile laboratory, for its purpose not to be defeated.

He appreciated the Federal Government, for the confidence reposed in Ogun, by kicking off the campaign, scheduled to be carried out in other parts of the country, in Ogun.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, in his welcome address, aid, with the event, Ogun State had recorded another first in innovative public health intervention.