The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, disclosed this to newsmen in Lafia, the state capital, on Thursday at a press conference to commemorate the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day tagged.’Yes, we can end TB.’
The commissioner stated that the cases were detected across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, and 21 per cent of the victims were co-infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Gwamna, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Damina John, lamented that if adequate measures were not taken to contain the spread of the disease, it could pose a serious threat to many residents of the state.
He said, “Nasarawa State detected 7,345 TB cases in the year 2023; 21 per cent of whom are co-infected with HIV. This number is quite higher than that of the previous year, 2022, which was 5,445 with 18 per cent co-infection with HIV.
“This shows that TB is still prevalent in the state. There is a need, therefore, to intensify our efforts in the fight against this menace.
“The contribution by some of the LGAs to the figure recorded in the year 2023 are as follows: Awe LGA – 179; Obi LGA – 350; Wamba LGA – 178; Nassarawa Eggon LGA – 682; Nassarawa LGA – 1,846; Toto LGA – 143, among others.”
The commissioner further explained that the success rate of TB treatment in the state was currently at 89 per cent, adding that the state was yet to meet the target of 95 per cent stipulated by the National TB Control Programme, hence much work needed to be done.
While reiterating the state government’s commitment to ensuring good healthcare delivery for its teaming population, Gwamna said the ministry would continue to work in collaboration with partners to reduce to the barest minimum, cases of TB and subsequent eradication of the disease.
“Currently, the state has 382 TB/DOTS treatment centres. Efforts are on to expand TB services to more remote areas for easy accessibility.
“TB is a disease of public health interest as it is highly infectious and airborne. TB is commonly associated with the following signs and symptoms: Cough for two weeks or more that is productive of sputum or not, low-grade fever, persistent weight loss, chest pain, night sweats, among others.
“The Nasarawa State Government will not relent on its efforts to provide good, quality and affordable healthcare services to its citizens. If we must end TB in Nasarawa State and beyond, workable strategies must be put in place to eliminate the disease,” the commissioner added.
