As part of activities intensify awareness creation on Tuberculosis in Oyo state, one of the development partners in the state, USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, BA-N has taken TB awareness campaign to Bodija International market, Ibadan.
The campaign at Bodija Market, one of the biggest food stuff markets in Oyo state and the southwest, took a new twist as breakthrough Action Nigeria defied the rains to distribute Aprons, overall and reflective Jackets inscribed with TB awareness messages to the market men and women.
Newsarena.ng reports that many of the petty traders including pepper, onion, yam, meat and vegetables sellers as well as hawkers, and head porters popularly known as “Alabaru” got the aprons and were excited to wear them.
They also believe the initiative will no doubt boost sensitization on Tuberculosis prevention, case finding and testing considering the high numbers of residents who will read the messages on the aprons as they patronize the traders.
While explaining the purpose of the market engagement, Oyo state coordinator, USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, #BA-N, Mrs Oluwatosin Afachung said the initiative was to sensitize market men and women on the need for people with cough of more than two weeks to get tested.
Mrs. Afachung said “If you have a cough of more than two weeks, you’ve used all kind of drugs and it’s not going, the next step is to visit the nearest health centre to go an do a test, to find out what kind of kind of cough it is”
“Generally, we’re creating awareness about tuberculosis and telling people that TB test is free, TB is treatable and the treatment is free.
“So we’re doing again today is to brand our market men and women with the messages about TB, so we have aprons, we have overall and reflective Jackets which we’re given to them, they also has the number people can call for information on testing and treatment, it’s toll free.”
Reacting, Alhaji Azeez Musibau, Chairman Binukonu Bodija Market Ibadan said the initiative was an opportunity for traders in the market to be aware of tuberculosis as a disease, especially the aspect that informed them that testing and treatments are free.
