Dr. Amina El-Imam, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, has disclosed that Tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for approximately 1,869 deaths in Kwara State in 2023.
El-Imam made this revelation during a speech delivered on Monday in Ilorin at the commemoration of the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day. She emphasized that TB continues to claim over 4,000 lives daily worldwide.
Highlighting the significance of thorough case investigation and ensuring that patients receive anti-TB medication, she underscored the importance of proactive measures in combating the disease.
“It is only when all active cases are treated that we can break the chain of transmission of Tuberculosis.
“The Kwara State Ministry of Health remains committed to finding cases of Tuberculosis wherever they may be.
“We are intensifying community sensitization and active case search using our well-established structures of community informants, surveillance officers, and community TB/HIV workers,” she affirmed.
El-Imam underscored the collaborative efforts between the Kwara Government and its partners to ensure that Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment incur zero costs for patients.
She commended Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s dedication to enhancing Tuberculosis diagnostic capabilities and services throughout all wards in the state.
Additionally, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the wife of the Kwara governor, emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating Tuberculosis and fostering a healthy Kwara. Represented by Ganiyu Opeloyeru, the Director-General of Ajike People’s Support Center, Abdulrazaq urged all residents of Kwara to promptly report any suspected cases of Tuberculosis in their communities to mitigate the risk of transmission.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis, a severe bacterial infection affecting the lungs, manifests symptoms including persistent cough, chest pain, and breathlessness.
