From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Chairman, Tuberculosis Control Office in Nigeria Dr. Igbagbur Agela has frowned at the high rate of tuberculosis in the country.
Dr. Agela who said this yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi, noted only 5,000 out of 56,000 cases of tuberculosis in children was notified.
He said in Benue State, an estimated case of 2305 children between the ages of 0-15 years were expected to be suffering with the disease with only 501 notified through the effort of foreign partners including Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood Empowerment Program, SMILE.
“Through their effort and other international development partners, the State witnessed drastic reduction in the first and second quarter data review” he said.
The Benue State Tuberculosis/Leprosy Control Program head observed that the disease has remained high because of the high rate of HIV/AIDS, adding that the environment is bad as a result of crisis.
“Nutrition amongst the children is poor and this lowers their immune/system and brings tuberculosis in them. During the World Tuberculosis Day, we went to some of the IDP camps and identified four (4) cases at the Agan camp in Makurdi.
“ There is need to create awareness and demand as well as facilitate vulnerable communities to access medical services if we must achieve the 2025 goal of eradicating tuberculosis”, Dr. Agela stated.
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