By Kemi Olatunde
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Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola has said that treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) in all government hospitals in the state is free.
He spoke while addressing residents of Akure in commemoration of the 2024 World Tuberculosis day with a road walk to sensitize on the need to end tuberculosis in the state .
While urging the people to get tested so as to access free medical service, he noted that TB is not a death sentence, stating that government has continued to display unrivalled commitment by ensuring that TB detection increased tremendously with about 62 percent which he said was a result of the massive investment in human resources, health and infrastructure,
While speaking further at the exercise which was organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Damien Foundation, Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation and APIN Public Health, Ikuomola explained that it is responsible for about 1.2 million death globally in 2022 adding that Nigeria notified about 282,184 cases in the same year which according to him has made TB a major public health challenge.
He, therefore, called for collaboration among communities, civil society organisations, academia and private sector in designing comprehensive, sustainable and lasting solutions to end tuberculosis and urged them to mobilise people for testing.
State coordinator of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Dele David emphasized in his goodwill message that TB can be ended through high level leadership, increased investment, faster uptake of new WHO recommendation and adoption of innovations, accelerated actions and multisectoral collaboration.
The representative of Damien Foundation, Mrs Feyisara Adepoju also noted that her organisation sought to promote public awareness of the disease’s health, social, and economic consequences, as well as to intensify efforts to eradicate the disease.
The representative of APIN public Health, Dr Oyelayo Babatunde said the scourge of TB is still unabated, adding that a great commitment in funding, testing and collaboration would go a long way in stemming the tide of the disease
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Idowu sought for increased and massive collaboration to end Tuberculosis.
The Project Manager for Ondo State Tuberculosis, Mrs Foyinsola Olumagba appreciated all partners, Stakeholders, Civil Society Organisations, Community based Organisations for working to put an end to Tuberculosis in Ondo state while urging more intense collaboration.
The year 2024 World TB day themed “Yes! We can end TB” is to raise awareness about the epidermic.