Nigeria and the TB scourge

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, though it can affect any organ in the body. It can develop when bacteria spread through droplets in the air. TB can be fatal, but in many cases, it is preventable and treatable.

In the past, TB, or “consumption,” was a major cause of death around the world. Following improvements in living conditions and the development of antibiotics, the prevalence of TB fell dramatically in industrialized countries.

However, in the 1980s, the numbers started to rise again. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes it as an “epidemic.” They report that it is among the top 10 causes of death globally and “the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.”

As the whole world celebrated World TB Day on March 24, 2021, it raised awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of the disease and to set up efforts to end the TB epidemic.

Sadly, the Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS) has revealed that over 162,000 people die of tuberculosis annually in Nigeria.

Despite the fact that the Nigerian Tuberculosis Management Institute has been trying to ensure total eradication of the aforementioned diseases yet it keeps on spreading day-by-day.

Is the current treatment being applied not active or is the disease not cured?

In a nutshell, I would like to draw the attention of the Nigerian government in collaboration with the WHO on the need to strive to find a way-out as this disease is very deadly.

Shetu James,

Department of Mass Communication,

University of Maiduguri

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