Report: High Rate of TB Rocks Imo With 12,133 Cases …4,367 Under Care; 7,822 Missing Amid Campaigns, Free Medication

By ThankGod Emeh…

While the global Campaigns for Tuberculosis: an infectious disease caused by species of mycobacterium, infecting the lungs by the expectoration of sputum, fever, unknown weight loss, and drenching night sweat, which is transmitted through inhalation are being taken seriously owing to its deadly means of airborne transmission, it is a thing of worry to note that the public, as well as identified TB patients and their contacts in Nigeria and Imo state, in particular, don’t take the campaigns and medication too seriously. This inaction according to documented records of the country’s National TB Programme shows that Imo state recorded 4,367 TB cases in 2022 with about 7, 822 missed cases where the expected annual case notification is 12,133 thereby placing the state at 40% in the fight against Tuberculosis.

It has become more disturbing that in Imo state today, an assessment by the Imo TB team shows there are TB Test and Treatment sites spread across the 27 local government areas of the state; twelve (12) GeneXpert machines, One (1) TB LAMP, and two (2) Wellness On Wheels (WOW) Keke (Tricycle) among other TB machines added with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, NTBLCP Toll-Free line (3340) and USSD (*3340#) for timely testing, identification and treatment of TB cases yet the 7, 822 missing cases and contacts in 2022.

Against the foregoing backdrop, the Ministry of Health, Imo state in collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria and Royal Dutch Tuberculosis Foundation (KSCV) at a one-day programme organized for journalists in the state on Monday 24th April 2023 called for increased media knowledge of TB, improvement in the quality of media reporting on TB to build the capacity of media personnel on human-centered reporting as well as strengthening linkages between the media and TB team.

The Imo TB team disclosed that Imo state is the 8th state across the federation with the highest burden of TB, pointing out low awareness of TB in the state as people in rural areas are not enlightened to know the dangers of the disease.

The team while emphasizing the need for preventive, precautionary measures to be taken by the general public to always go for TB testing whenever they cough for more than two weeks, stressed that Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable when infected people and their contacts are identified on time and as well roundly followed up with pre-TB and anti-TB treatments.

Children and People living with HIV (PLHIV) are said to be at a higher risk of contracting TB through exposure to adults infected with TB hence a preventive treatment of disconnecting the infected child and PLHIV from the exposure when identified is advised.

According to the treatment plan; it is noted that two weeks of intensive treatment, prevents the spread, while 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months of consistent treatments cure moderate TB, advanced TB, and Resistant TB respectively.

The Programme Manager of Imo State TB Programme, Dr. Okafor Charles stressed that the major challenge of his team includes ignorance, fear of stigmatization, and TB drug/treatment abuse which develops into Resistant TB.

Dr. Okafor however urged the general public to be open-minded to share their health challenges with health experts to be well attended to and as well properly guided that Tuberculosis is not a death sentence, adding that gone are the days when TB is linked to witchcraft and diabolism.

Imo TB Programme Manager decried that if intentional and committed action and measures are not taken in the fight against TB in the state, the state runs the risk of recording about 65,505 more cases if each person under care infects 15 persons each.

The danger staring Imolites in the face is that when the missing 7,822 cases are multiplied by 15; it gives 117,330 possible risk cases

The Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilization, Imo TB Focal Person, Mrs. Chizoma Amaka, advised people to always eat well-nourished food, boost their immune and avoid close contact with identified TB patients noting that malnutrition, HIV, Diabetics, and close contact with TB patients are major risk factors of TB.

Assistant Programme Officer TB with Breakthrough Action Africa, Mrs Cecilia Kafran enjoined Imolites to shun acts of Stigmatization and discrimination that scare TB patients away from opening up on their health challenges and going for TB treatment.

Mrs Kafran advised community members, family and relations, workers at health facilities, Nongovermental organizations and faith based organizations to contribute their quota in addressing stigma.

The Programme Officer, Social & Behavior Change of USAID in Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, Mrs Nkoyo Umoh harped the urgency for a holistic behavioural change of Imolites and the media among others in the battle against Tuberculosis with a renewed “pre-knowledge, Knowledge (Education), Approval, Intentional (Overcoming the temptation of procrastination, Practical and Advocacy approach”

Mrs Nkoyo added that when behavioral change takes place, the fight against TB will be roundly won as many people are in the dark about the nature and danger of TB

Speaking at the training, the contact person for Royal Dutch TB Foundation, KSCV, Dr. Golibe Ugochukwu started that more committed efforts are being made to intensive the fight against TB to ensure Imolites are in the know and take of right treatment of TB.

The general public are enjoined to always feel free to call and connect with the National TB programme on its toll-free number as well As social media handles with hashtags #CheckAmO #EndTB #EndTBinNigeria #TbFreeNigeria #WorldTbDay #WorldTbDay2023