Ogun Worried Over Rising Number of TB Patients, Over 300 Die In 2023

Ogun State Government has expressed concern over the rising cases of Tuberculosis (TB) across the state.

Over 300 TB patients died in the last year from 6,000 cases, according to the institute of Human Virology Nigeria.

The State Health Commissioner, Dr. Tomi Coker, fielding questions from newsmen in Abeokuta on Monday, to mark the 2024 World TB Day, said early detection of the disease was critical, as it could be cured with a combination of modern drugs.

She asked those having coughing lasting two weeks or more, with or without sputum, to visit the nearest government health facilities for a check, because it could be TB.

The commissioner also asked those with associated weight loss, profuse sweating at nights, difficulty in breathing or blood stained coughing, to visit hospitals for a check.

Coker said the state government has been working with Federal Ministry of Health and its partners for free treatment of TB patients in 20 local government areas.

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According to her, the free treatment is being undertaken through 623 government health facilities, selected private and mission hospitals.

The State Programme Manager for TB and Leprosy Control, Olusola Taiwo, said, One of the predisposing factors for TB infection is staying in an overcrowded environment, so people should stay where there is good ventilation, indiscriminate pit, they should try put on their coughing etiquette to prevent the spreading of TB germs.

The World Health Organisation representative, Omotunde Ogunlaja, advised residents to speak out and contact the nearest health facility if symptoms are suspected

We just like to tell the residents that TB is curable and we can end it so anybody that shows the signs, coughing for two weeks or more should go to the health facilities and get themselves accessed.

The assessment is free, and treatment is free, and also, those on the treatment should not be set aside. They should use their drugs she added.