Health Stakeholders Review Interventions On TB, Leprosy In Nigeria, Harp On Improved Awareness
Underscoring the impact of interventions, supports, synergies, advocacies and government’s policies on Nigeria’s quest to end Tuberculosis and Leprosy in the country, formed the focal point at the annual 3-day review meeting by stakeholders in the health sector, held in Lagos.
No doubt, changing the narrative on the present ranking on Tuberculosis where Nigeria is rated number one in Africa and 6th in the global space became a target for all stakeholders at the summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Speaking with newsmen on the successes recorded so far on stakeholders’ interventions on Tuberculosis, Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, disclosed that significant impact had been made on case detention since 2020 despite the impact of Covid 19 pandemic.
Dr. Anyaike who hinted that it is on global record that Nigeria was one of the countries of the world that recorded a significant increase in TB case detection, explained that 285 thousand identified cases were detected in 2022 compared to a record of 207 thousand cases discovered in 2021.
He said the feat was as a result of interventions from the Federal government, development partners, civil society organizations, global funds and support from international donors.
While emphasizing the need for early detection and treatment of TB cases to cut the chain of transmission, the director of public health disclosed that the Federal government through the ministry of health is building the capacity of about one hundred and twenty thousand Frontline health workers and revitalizing the primary healthcare centres to address challenges of human resources.
Speaking on the significance of the event, Dr. Anyaike said it was an annual summit where representatives of the Federal government, development partners, programme managers from the 36 states of the Federation take stock of activities on tuberculosis prevention and treatment in the outgoing year as well as the integration of programmes, in accordance with universal health coverage of living no one behind.
He said: “This annual event allows us to evaluate our interventions, identify successes, and address challenges. We have made remarkable progress in tuberculosis case detection, reaching 60 percent coverage by the end of 2022. Despite the global challenges posed by COVID-19, Nigeria has consistently increased case detection, breaking records and positioning itself as a leader in the fight against tuberculosis,”
Also speaking, Deputy Project Director for Malaria and Tuberculosis, USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, BA-N, Dr. Bolatito Aiyenigba who said Federal government was doing so much to end and curb the spread of TB, expressed concern that many Nigerians were not aware of the immense measures being put in place.
She said Nigerians were not aware of the 3340 toll free hotline for TB care, issues about TB in children among others
Dr. Aiyenigba said Breakthrough Action Nigeria has over the years supported Nigerian government in terms of media engagement and awareness at market places, motor parks as well as other public places.
She said, in commemoration of the 2023 World Tuberculosis Day, Breakthrough Action Nigeria organized one week events to ensure right information on TB gets to members of the public.
According to Dr. Emperor Ubochioma, programme manager global fund grant for tuberculosis said Federal government is playing a vital role at ending TB in Nigeria but much needed to be done on awareness.
Dr. Ubochioma said there is the need to raise more awareness about the disease and how people can access care.
The three-day review summit addressed various issues, including strategies to increase infant tuberculosis case detection and raise awareness about free tuberculosis treatment services.
Our correspondent gathered that, at the end of the meeting, stakeholders reiterated their commitments towards eradicating tuberculosis in Nigeria and achieving global health targets by 2035
