…As Mbaitoli LGA has the highest cases in Imo

By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri- The Program manager, of the Imo State Tuberculose program, Dr Charles Okafor on Tuesday, said the state, has 12,133, Tuberculose cases in the state.

Okafor disclosed this to newsmen at the State TB Control Programme and Breakthrough Action, one-day Tuberculosis sensitization training for media Practitioners in Imo.

He linked the rise of tuberculose cases in Imo, to a lack of awareness creation about the disease and prevention methods.

However, he called on the media and religious leaders to lead the sensitization program to reduce the spread of TB.

According to Okafor, “TB prevalence in Imo State is 209/100,000Imo state is 8th among the states in the country with a high TB burden. Epidermilogically one confirm TB patient if not treated can infect 10-15 other persons within one year. In 2022 Imo state notified a total of 4367 TB cases (the highest ever). The expected annual TB case notification based on TB prevalence is 12,133 TB cases. The wide gap of 7,822 TB cases missed in 2022.

“Anecdotal evidence shows very low TB awareness in the state most people in rural communities are still not aware of TB, therefore perpetuating myths around chronic cough and severe weight loss. The low awareness impacts very negatively on acceptance of diagnosis, and uptake of treatment adherence. The Media and Religious leaders are yet to partner with us to create health messages around tuberculosis. This has resulted in lots of missing TB cases, treatment refusal, and treatment loss to follow-up in the State.”

He continued by saying: “Our burden is how we can get to over a hundred thousand persons with these TB cases. Mbaitoli has the highest cases of TB. followed by Isiala Mbano local government area, Aboh Mbaise Local government, and Owerri North local government, but Nkwerre has the lowest TB cases.

” They are still relating TB, with one fetish thing or the other. Most rural people do not know about TB. Just like a case in Owerri North where a young man was locked up in a room because he was coughing so much. It took us an active search to get the young man and keep him under treatment and we succeeded in reviving him.

“So, the media and religious leaders should partner, with us to end enlighten our people to take action and take their medication and get healthy.”