The Ebonyi State Government on World Tuberculosis Day 2024 enjoined patients to always engage in early diagnosis and treatment for quick results.
Speaking during a press briefing at Centenary City, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, described tuberculosis as one of the deadliest diseases and charged all stakeholders to show more commitment in the fight against the disease.
He encouraged people to adhere to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, WHO, and adopt innovations, while also calling for the involvement of civil society organisations to ensure that tuberculosis is reduced to the barest minimum.
Dr Ekuma, who said that the celebration was to raise awareness and step up efforts to eliminate the global epidemic, enumerated the achievements of the state government, such as making every community aware of the causes and cures of the disease and also ensuring that all detected tuberculosis, Buruli ulcer, and leprosy patients were placed on treatment and cured.
Ekuma advised people to go for early diagnosis and cure, adding: “Nine Gene-Xpert machines were installed in the state in addition to the TB Microscopic Centres to enhance high technology and rapid diagnosis of all forms of tuberculosis in hospitals including St. Patrick Hospital, FETHA, Mater, PJH Uburu, Ezzangbo General Hospital, General Hospital Onueke, Mile Four Treatment Centre, Touch Diagnostica Abakaliki and DUFUTH.”
The commissioner further said that the statistics of TB patients in the state rose from 63.4% in December 1997 to 86% in December 2023, with a treatment success rate of 90%.
He explained that inadequate funding was one of the challenges facing the programme and lauded the implementing partners, like WHO, CARITAS Nigeria, Association for Reproductive and Family Health, and Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, among others, for their support of the state.
Earlier, the Programme Manager, the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, NTBLCP, Chief Nwite Samuel, said that the purpose of the briefing was to disclose how far tuberculosis services have gone in the state.
On his part, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Hyacinth Ebenyi, eulogised CARITAS and other supporting partners for their encouragement and promised to continue the sensitization in the state.
The briefing was attended by representatives of the WHO, CARITAS Group, Instrat Global Health Solutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
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