BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
Breakthrough Action, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), said during a training for media personnel that no fewer than 18 persons die because of Tuberculosis every hour in Nigeria.
While decrying that Nigeria is pathetically ranked 1st in TB burden in Africa and number 6 globally, the NGO added that the country is also on the list of the 14 countries with the triple burden of TB world.
Speaking through a webinar organized for media practitioners from seven States of the federation on the need for more awareness in TB , the organizers said there are 69% of TB patients in the communities, adding however that, “One patient of TB puts very many at risk if not treated in good time”.
Continuing, Breakthrough Action quoted global TB report of 2019 as saying 150,000 Nigerians died of TB in that year with an additional 47 Nigerians developung active TB every hour.
While noting that the 5 hour webinar organized for 7 States of the federation was geared towards building the capacity of media personnel on using human angle stories about TB with the aim of generating more possitive actions, Breakthrough Action said it will also enable journalists to understand the diffdeneces between TB and Covid 19 as well as how to identify the differences in the symptoms.
After staying that TB is a an airborne disease that is caused by the germ called mycobacterium the NGO affirmed that it can be spread through the air when the person with TB of the lungs cough, sneezes, sings or talks.
“Common symptoms include persistent cough (two weeks or more) loss of weight, night sweat, low fever. TB is curable and diagnosis and treatment for TB patients are free in all government hospitals.
.”Earlier detection and treatment is key to quick recovery from the disease just as a patient is not infectious two weeks in treatment”
Breakthrough Action while appealing to people to desist from stigmatizing against those that have TB added that they should rather encourage them to complete their treatment as they could get better after two months into the treatment of 5 months.
While giving a toll free number of 3340 for all to call in case of any suspected TB, Breakthrough Action said “There is also the need for early TB case finding, notification, and treatment”.
