By Sola Ogundipe,

As part of the commemoration of the 2016 World Tuberculosis day, March 24, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program NTLCP, is collaborating with the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, to inform and educate the public about the disease.

Towards this end, a host of medics known as the “big guns”, Dr Lovett Lawson, Chairman, Stop TB partnership in Nigeria, Dr Gabriel Akang, Dr Josephine Okechukwu and Dr Emmanuel Meribole, all of NTLCP are billed to attend the 38th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the AGPMPN in April to enlighten the public and healthcare practitioners on TB.

Disclosing this in Abuja, spokesperson for AGPMPN, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, said the multisectoral collaboration will enhance the number of diagnostic, treatment and research centres in the country.

Theme of the 2016 World TB Day is Commemoration in Nigeria is ‘’Find TB, Treat TB and Working together to Eliminate TB’’ while the slogan is “Unite to End TB”.

Ogungbo said diagnosis and treatment of TB are provided free of charge by the NTLCP with support from partners including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, USAID, WHO, Clinton Health Access Initiative  and private sector organisations like Agbami-Co-Ventures..

He said private hospitals exist nationwide and can enhance a functional referral system plugged into the national pathways for diagnosis, treatment and control of TB.

“We need private hospitals to domicile the diagnostic kits and drugs for easy access by Nigerians. This also allows monitoring, evaluation and research by the team thus spreading the catchment net widely.

“This is also in the spirit of public private partnership in health care as majority of Nigerians patronise private hospitals and clinics.” With an estimated 9.6 million new cases in 2014, TB is rages in India, China, Indonesia and Nigeria causing death and disability.