The National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer, and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) has disclosed that Plateau State has identified over 2,000 positive tuberculosis cases in the first half of 2023.
Dr. Shedrack Dimang, the Zonal Medical Officer in Charge of NTBLCP in the North Central region, shared this information on Monday in Jos during the launch of the national tuberculosis testing week. Dimang mentioned that these positive cases were identified through hospital visits and outreach programs held within the state.
“The rise in case detection is a result of an increase in public awareness and the public doing away with misconceptions as regards the disease.
“The aim of the week-long testing is to create awareness about Tuberculosis (TB) and to also intensify TB case findings.
“We also aim at putting those vulnerable to developing active TB on preventive treatment and preventing community spreading, as every undiagnosed and untreated case could infect 15 people within a year,’’ he said.
During the testing week, Dimang highlighted that individuals identified as positive cases would receive prompt treatment, with immediate notification of those who tested positive. This approach is aimed at tackling the challenge of low TB case identification resulting from limited awareness about the disease.
Similarly, Dr. Bunmi Alagbe, the Program Officer overseeing TB at Breakthrough Action, an NGO, emphasized that the purpose of the week was to amplify the discovery of TB cases, particularly given the state’s high prevalence rate. Alagbe noted that in 2022, more than 3,670 TB cases will have been identified.
Dr. Adakole Okoh, the KNCV Global Fund Public Private Mix (GF-PPM) Coordinator, an NGO, attributed half of the TB case notifications to private hospitals. He emphasized that the objective of the week-long testing initiative was to expedite the process of identifying TB cases and curbing their spread.
Likewise, Plateau’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cletus Shurkuk, underscored the significance of the week in creating widespread awareness about TB through community outreach programs. The week-long testing would be conducted in all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. Represented by the Ministry’s Director of Medical Services, Dr. Audu Samuel, Shurkuk lamented that despite being a preventable and treatable disease, TB had resulted in fatalities and disabilities in the state. He urged individuals experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks and weight loss to take advantage of the free testing and treatment available at designated medical outreach centers in their respective LGAs.
