FG REITERATES ITS READINESS AND INTERVENTION TOWARDS THE CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS IN NIGERIA.
FG reiterates its readiness and intervention towards the control of Tuberculosis in Nigeria.The Honourable Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire has reiterated government’s readiness and practical intervention towards the control of the spread of Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria. Dr. Ehanire made this known at the launching of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme Compendium of Best Practices in Nigeria, held on Thursday June, 2, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.The Minister said that the implementation of innovative strategic interventions put in place by the TB programme managers which includes, integration of TB control into COVID-19 measures eventually led to a 15% increase in TB notification from 120,266 cases notified in 2019 to 138,591 TB cases notified in 2020. This made Nigeria one of the very few countries in the world to record an increase in TB cases notification during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
He further stated that the National Control Programme has packaged in the compendium of best practices, those strategic intervention and measures that enabled the consistent increase in TB case notification in the past 3 years.The Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora who was present at the event enjoined partners in the public and private health sector to continue their unrelenting effort by supporting government to put an end to TB epidemic in Nigeria. He went further to appreciate the development partners, donors, civil society organizations, agencies and stakeholders for their efforts that made the documentation in the compendium possible.Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mallam Mahmuda Mamman represented by the Director, Hospital Services in the Ministry, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi mni revealed that the National TB programme has consistently increased in treatment coverage rate from 24% in 2018 which is the baseline to 27% in 2019, 30% in 2020 and now 45% in 2021, which culminates to about 207,785 case placed on treatment in 2021.These statistics she said, are buttered by the commitment made by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammed Buhari at the UN high level meeting in September, 2018 held in New York.Part of the highlights of the event were presentation of Award of recipients in public and private organizations in the health sector as well as exhibition of health equipment.Also present at the event were representatives from WHO, Civil Society Organizations, Development Partners amongst others.
By: Olawale Opeloye
Signed: A.A. Chindaya (DD Media & Public Relations)
