By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—NO fewer than 2,000 cases of tuberculosis, TB, have been recorded in Anambra State, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike, has said.

Akabuike, who was addressing reporters in Awka, said the TB patients were receiving treatment at various health institutions, otherwise known as Directly Observed Therapy Centres, in the state.

According to him, Anambra and 13 other states, including FCT, account for over 75 percent of the total TB burden in Nigeria.

The commissioner debunked the belief in some quarters that TB was caused by voodoo, saying the disease was caused by a germ called Mycrobac-terium Tuberculosis and that it is spread through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs sneeze, cough, spit, speak or sing.

He explained that people living with HIV were more vulnerable to TB infection, adding, however, that the disease could be cured when detected early.

He commended Governor Willie Obiano for the prompt payment of salaries of health workers and provision of health facilities for the TB programme, as well as signing an MoU with the global funds providers to contribute 20 percent for the control of TB in the state.

He regretted that Nigeria contributed the highest burden of the disease in Africa and the fourth highest among the 22 high burden countries with an annual incidence of 338 per 100,000 and prevalence of 322 per 100,000 individuals.

He said: “The untreated infected individuals can spread the disease to between 10 to 20 persons each year within the poor population, PLWHIV and other key affected populations.”

The state Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Officer, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Okolie and the state Director of Primary Health and Disease Control, Dr. Emmanuel Okoye, in their contributions, stressed the need for early diagnosis and treatment when detected, assuring that diagnosis and treatment were free.