US donates 32 AI-enabled X-ray machines to enhance TB detection in Nigeria

The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has donated 32 AI-enabled X-ray machines to Nigeria to enhance prompt detection of tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV), as part of efforts to reduce the burden of the disease in the country.

It said the machines, which are capable of interpreting 400 X-rays per day cost the U.S approximately $100,000 to procure each.

The Deputy Director for Programs, U.S CDC Nigeria, Dr. Jerry Gwamna in his welcome address at a media round table held in Abuja on Wednesday, the explained that the United States believes that, in order to really fight diseases of public health threats, the agency cannot just stay within the U.S, as it believe that disease anywhere is disease everywhere in these days of pandemics and epidemics that move across the globe and don’t respect boundaries.

“That is why CDC is out here doing a lot to help the government of Nigeria, support them in their response to different disease burdens they are facing, including different emerging threats”, he said.

In her presentation, the Senior Program Specialist, US CDC Nigeria, Dr. Flora Nwagagbo noted that Tuberculosis (TB) was the top infectious disease killer worldwide, and Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of TB in the world.

Nwagagbo disclosed that Nigeria reported 467,000 new tuberculosis cases and 71,000 deaths in 2023. Also, 4.9 percent of people living with HIV have TB.

According to her, TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, and the presence of HIV increases the risk of developing active TB due to a weakened immune system.

“The dual epidemic of TB and HIV presents significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment, as the symptoms of TB can often be obscured by HIV-related illnesses, leading to delays in diagnosis and increased illness and death.

“In 2023, out of an estimated 10.8 million cases globally, 2.6 million people were not diagnosed and treated for TB.
662,000 (6.1%) of the estimated cases were among people living with HIV.
In Nigeria, of the 467,000 new TB cases reported in 2023, approximately 140,000 were among people living with HIV”, she said.

The Public Health Expert stated that, the Government of Nigeria had shown a commitment to addressing the challenges facing the TB and HIV epidemics. Consequently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) was supporting them to address TB, especially among people living with HIV, through funding from the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

“U.S. CDC’s assistance helps save lives, reduce the spread of TB within families, communities, and across borders, and ensures resources are used efficiently and effectively”, she said.

Nwagagbo informed that the Agency was also, “helping Nigeria introduce portable x-ray (PDX) machines with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve screening for TB in people living with HIV”.

She further stated that the machines were an effective tool for screening for TB, even when people do not show symptoms, adding that fifty percent (50%) of people with TB do not have symptoms.

She also said, “the use of AI makes the machines faster and more sensitive than traditionally used chest x-rays in detecting abnormalities. It reduces time to accurate identification of TB and diagnose, allowing people to start treatment sooner and improving health outcomes”.

Responding on behalf of the Nigerian Government, Team Lead, Program Management Unit, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Program (NTBLCP), Dr. Emperor Ubochioma expressed appreciation to the United States Government for the donation:

“The use of PDX is a game changer, we want to appreciate the U.S Government for being a pacesetter in Nigeria. With the coming of the PDX, where the device reach the patient, not patient to the device, we have diagnosed a lot of cases”, he said.

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