It has been disclosed that tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.4 million people year after year globally while about 10 million people are sicken with the disease.
This is in spite of the fact that the disease is treatable and preventable anywhere across the world.
The assertion was made by the Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo during a press conference addressed on Sunday to commemorate the 2024 World TB Day held at the Conference Hall of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACTMA).
He added that, Nigeria is ranked 6th among the high burden countries and 1st in Africa with high burden for TB, MDR-TB & TB/HIV.
Nigeria is also among the 10 top countries that accounts for 77% of the Global Gap in TB Case Findings and contributes 9% to the Global Gap between TB Incidence and Notified Cases.
He however said that, “It is gratifying to inform you that, in 2023 Bauchi State detected and notified 9, 332 Drug Susceptible TB Cases as against 7, 806 in 2022.”
According to him, “With an estimated TB Target of 16, 092 in 2023, the State had achieved a 57.9% performance in TB Case Notification. And out of the 7, 730 New TB Cases detected and registered for Treatment in 2022, about 7, 435 were successfully treated thereby achieving a 96% Treatment Success Rate (TSR) at the end of 2023.”
The Commissioner added that,”With the current commitment of Bauchi State Government, this administration under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, BACATMA has made significant progresses in terms of TB Control both at the State and LGA Levels.”
He explained that,”In Bauchi State, there are currently 794 free TB Treatment Centers, 127 TB Diagnostic Centers and 16 GeneXpert, three Truenat and Eight TB Lamp Machines which are the latest machines that diagnose both the Drug Sensitive TB bacteria and the Drug-Resistant Strain of the bacteria that course Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR-TB) form of TB.”
“It is interesting to note that all the 20 LGAs in Bauchi State have at least one of the latest machines for Molecular Diagnosis of TB,” he added.
“Our united effort is needed to reach those at highest risk for TB and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve Testing and Treatment among high- risk populations,” the Commissioner stressed.
He explained that Tuberculosis (TB), is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; which most commonly affects the lungs as it is transmitted from person to another through droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the disease.
He stressed that, “If not treated, a person with active pulmonary TB disease will infect on average, between 10 and 15 people every year.”
Umar Sambo who was represented by the Director Medical Services of the Ministry, Dr Suleiman said that, Tuberculosis is one of the Eight Global Health Campaigns marked by World Health Organization (WHO).
According to him, the WHO has set aside the 24th March of every year as the World TB Day. This is designed to build public awareness that TB today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of nearly 1.5million Deople each year; mostly in developing countries.
“Following the UN High-Level Meeting on TB in September 2023, the world has witnessed an unprecedented progress: a record 7.5 million diagnoses out of an stimated 10.3 million cases in 2022 the highest number of people with TB ever iagnosed and treated in a year,” he added.
“This made member States unanimously decided to keep last year’s theme of “Yes! We can End TB” to keep the focus on the amazing work done in 2022. The Global Focus on TB is clear: escalate funding for mplementation, accelerate research and development for new tools including maccines, enhance access to rapid molecular diagnosis and efficient treatments, ioritize TB prevention, address TB in children, and support the vital work in Communities, Rights, and Gender (CRG),” he added.
“It is my great privilege and pleasure representing the entire good people of Bauchi State to join the global community in commemorating this year’s World TB Day with a theme, “Yes! And a slogan, “We Can End TB”. This affords us the opportunity to assess progress made towards achieving the End TB Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he added.
He then called on all stakeholders; International Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Religious and Traditional/Community Leaders, Private Sectors to join the drive to roll out this strategy and to reach, treat and cure all those who are ill from TB today.
The Commissioner also used the occasion to extend sincere appreciations on behalf of Bauchi State Government to numerous Donors Partners; WHO, BA-Nig, KNCV, GGHN, SFH, Pro-Health International, JHF SUFABEL, TLMN, LTR, GHSC-PSM, the Private Sector, CSOs and CBOs working in the State, as we look forward to a sustained and even a better Partnership.
Breakthrough Action Nigeria was particularly commended for the publicity support it has given to the programme over the years.
The state is marking this year’s commemoration with series of activities aimed at increasing awareness and active TB Case search. These include; Phone-in TB Radio and Television Program to be aired state wide and Official Flag-off Ceremony of the 2024 World TB Day to be performed by Her Excellency, the First Lady of Bauchi State, Chairperson of Advocacy and Community Social Mobilisation (ACSM) of BACATMA and the TB Ambassador of Bauchi State.
Other activities are Distribution of Nutritional Support for TB and Leprosy Patients, Integrated Free Medical Out-reach for TB, COVID-19, HIV, HBV, HCV, Malaria and Genotype and Targeted Community outreach activities to create awareness, active TB case finding in all the 20 LGAS.
Bauchi State team for 2024 TB commemoration