Bauchi state government has expressed commitment to ending Tuberculosis (TB) by the year 2030 in line with the federal government’s recommendation of ensuring TB free Nigeria in the stipulated time.
The state commissioner of health Dr Aliyu Maigoro expressed the commitment Monday during the opening ceremony of the 2021 world TB day commemoration with the slogan ‘Check am o!’ organized by the Bauchi state Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) in partnership with USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria held at TB treatment centre in Bayara general hospital Bauchi.
According to him, over 400, 000 people in the country have TB at present adding that there were many undetected infections during COVID 19 pandemic in the nation as those with symptoms avoided tests for the fear of being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
He advised anyone who coughs for two weeks or has signs of the disease to rush to hospital for tests noting that both the examination and treatment are free of charge.
Also speaking, the first lady of Bauchi state Aisha Bala Mohammed who is the tuberculosis champion in Bauchi state said the wife of the president Aisha Buhari has bestowed a role to wives of governors last year to champion campaign for the eradication of the disease in their respective states.
She said their nomination as TB champions was necessary due to the devastating impact of the disease and the renewed efforts to give it a final push.
Aisha Bala Mohammed reiterated that COVID 19 pandemic has put the eradication of TB at risk hence the need for intensive awareness and efforts to tackle it.
