….achieves 50% treatment coverage

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue State Commissiner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Yanmar Ortese says the state recorded over 7,000 Tuberculosis, TB, cases in 2023.

The Commissioner who made this known during the press briefing flagging off the commemoration of the 2024 World TB Day in Makurdi explained that the state ranked first with TB burden in the North Central and sixth in the country.

He noted that “despite concerted efforts made to control this disease, TB remains one of the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide and it disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including the poor, marginalised communities and those with weakened immune system.”

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to healthcare service delivery to the people stressing that the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration had already keyed into the African Union target and declaration of allotting at least 15 percent of their budgets to the health sector.

He said “I am happy to inform you that the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has implemented the Abuja declaration; evidently prioritizing the health sector in his administration by allocating 15 percent to the health sector in the approved 2024 budget.

“This commitment no doubt paves the way towards developing the health-care sector, sustained government commitnents to the fight against TB and thus renewed hope for ending TB and other diseases of public health importance in Benue State.

“I assure you that TB control will expectedly get it’s fair share of government commitment and attention in needy intervention areas. We will continue in partnership, coordination and providing the enabling environment for program interventions.

The Commissioner who lauded all the state’s partners for their commitment to the course as well as the advent of the Wellness-On-Wheels also known as WOW Truck in the detection and treatment of TB, noted that “it is a game changer in TB cases diagnosis and notification and it has aided the state in winning a National award on achieving 20 percent increase in TB case notification thus raising the annual case notification from slightly above 5,000 to over 7,000 TB cases in the year 2023 with Benue leading the North Central Zone with 72 percent increase in case finding.”

Also, Public Health Consultant and State Coordinator, Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, BA-N, Dr. Victor Onah pointed out that with sustained media campaign, sensitisation and advocacy the scourge of TB could be brought to an end.

He said “we use the media, both print and electronic to reach out to the people to sensitise them on the signs and symptoms of TB; and also clear the myths and misconceptions about the disease. It is not a curse but a disease and when you have it you can get your treatment which is free.

“So we at the BA-N will support the state to make sure that people are sensitised. Apart from using the media, we have our community structure which we activated from the onset to make sure that everyone is reached. Using faith based organisations, and traditional rulers as part of the process; such that everybody in the community is reached.

“We use the Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) approach
because these are the closest and first point of call to the community. Most people when they fall sick go to the Chemist to buy one drug or the other. So we have trained these people such that they will be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of TB and make referrals to the nearest public health facility where they can get diagnosis and treatment.

“We also use civic unions and activity groups and this has really helped to sensitise the people and increase in case finding. For instance, in 2022 we had little over 3,000 cases that were found in Benue State but as at last year we had over 7,000 cases and that is a plus for the state because for every case that was found, we have prevented 10 to 15 people from getting infected.

“So TB diagnosis is free, treatment is free and of course you can reach out to government hospitals and you can also dial the toll free number, 3340 to get to the nearest facility to receive treatment services.”

The Benue State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme Manager, Dr. Terence Akighir pointed out that the state in 2023 recorded treatment coverage of 50 percent out of the targeted 65 percent and about 109 drug resistant cases in the same year.

The Program Management Specialist, United States Agency for International Development, USAID Nigeria, Debby Nongo noted that “TB is one of the oldest diseases in the world but unfortunately it is still killing millions of people.

“So the World TB Day gives us the opportunity to create alot of awareness and let people know that TB is in the society and more importantly that it is curable and in Nigerian testing and treatment is free.”