Nigeria has been ranked top in tuberculosis in Africa and number six in the world. The Executive Director of KNVC foundation, Dr. Berthrand Odume disclosed at the Internally Displaced Persons Daudu Camp 3, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue state on Wednesday.
Odume said the organization was funded by the United States Agency for International Development, Nigeria, and was presently working in 14 states of the federation supporting TB-related projects and in another seven states supporting COVID-19 vaccination projects.
According to Odume, “Nigeria tops the list on TB burden in Africa and is number six in the world with a whole lot of people within the community having TB but unaware of their status.”
He added that those who were in the know shy away from accessing medical education on grounds of stigmatization, hence, the need to join hands to fight the disease.
“If you really want to find about 49 percent of missing TB cases in Nigeria, the efforts should be focused in the communities,” Odume said.
The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who inaugurated a KNCV clinic for Tuberculosis treatment known as ‘Wellness on Wheels’ truck services to fight against the disease, said the move was part of his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the life of the citizens, particularly in the area of health care.
Ortom applauded KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria for bringing the intervention to the people’s doorsteps assuring that his administration would leave no stone unturned to make the programme succeed.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Benson Abounu, urged the people to take advantage of the free tuberculosis services and particularly identified women as vital in addressing such issues.
He urged them to report any person who was found with symptoms to enable them to curtail the spread of the life-treating disease.
The Ter Guma represented by Mue Ter Ihyarev, Guma Local Government, Chief Augustine Shionyi, appreciated Ortom and KNCV for identifying his community and people to benefit from the service and pledged the support of traditional rulers to the project.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, Dr. Joseph Ngbea, said the move would go a long way in eradicating TB in the state assuring that the services would go beyond Guma to the hinterland to ensure that people were tested and treated without charges.
The Chairman, Daudu Camp 3, Godwin Maor, thanked the state government and the organization for acknowledging their plight with regard to health challenges saying he would continue to encourage his people to avail themselves of treatment.
The WoW truck tuberculosis services encompass a digital chest ex-ray machine to detect possible signs of the disease, a gene expert machine that facilitates results of specimens within two hours, a portable digital x-ray machine for non-motorable roads as well a biosafety cabinet to protect the person operating it.
