By Ijeoma UKAZU
Nigeria is ranked sixth among the countries that contribute to the global burden of tuberculosis, with over 440,000 estimated cases as of 2019.
In 2021, the Institute of Human Virology identified Lagos state as the epicentre of tuberculosis disease in Nigeria as more than 300,000 cases yearly are left undiagnosed nationwide
Data of tuberculosis cases from Lagos state captured at the national level of a five-year trend were 9,727 in 2018; 10,150 in 2019; 11,723 in 2020; 13,497 in 2021; and 17, 276 in 2022.
More recently, in April, the Lagos government revealed that in the first quarter of 2023, alone, it has recorded 4,621 new cases, while stating that five local government areas are hotspots with the most vulnerable cases leaving the population at high risk of the disease.
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Tuberculosis, popularly known as TB, is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, 6 spit.
To intensify awareness and control of the disease, the Lagos state government has called on the media to highlight the importance of early detection and testing as both services are free in its health facilities.
While speaking at a one-day Media Training held recently in Lagos, organised by the Institute of Human Virology, IHVN, in collaboration with Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, BA-N, the deputy director & programme manager, of the State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olusola Daniel Sokoya said the data indicated that “Alimosho has notified 477 incident cases, Ajeromi -Ifelodun with 367 cases, Ikorodu has 366 incident cases, these three LGAs are at risk due to high population. Additionally, Mushin also recorded 308 incident cases, Ojo with 292 cases and 278 cases in Badagry.
“Lagos State accounts for 11 per cent of TB cases in Nigeria with an estimated 54,000 persons projected to be suffering from TB based on the National Incidence Rate of 219 per 100,000 populations.”
According to Sokoya, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, and it is the commonest cause of death among persons living with HIV. Data from the Global TB Report 2022, about 10.9 million people fell ill due to TB in 2021, and 1.5 million deaths occurred due to TB infection.
He said that the Lagos State government has put in place the needed resources to ensure the availability of free TB services in most health facilities in the state, including GeneXpert machines.
“We have 38 GeneXpert machines in 32 sites across the state. The public should avail themselves of the opportunity since undetected cases pose a significant threat to the fight against TB in the country,” he said.
He charged the media to campaign and champion the course to end tuberculosis in Nigeria while calling on other stakeholders to increase investment in the plan for ending TB as a public health challenge.
Joseph Edor, Senior Programme Officer ll TB/RCCE USAID Breakthrough Action-Nigeria explained that Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB) is an airborne disease caused by mycobacteria and is spread through the air when people who have the disease cough, sneeze, or spit.
He noted that the commonest type of TB usually attacks the lungs (as pulmonary TB) adding that TB can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, bones and joints, the spine or any other parts of the body.
Concerned that an untreated case of TB can infect an average of 10 to 15 people in a year, Edor called for the following preventive tips, and strategic interventions,” avoiding overcrowded areas, maintaining good cough etiquette, avoiding spitting indiscriminately, making sure that eligible contacts especially children must be put on TB preventive treatments TPT.
“Active case search in communities “house-to-house TB case finding and community outreaches. Engagement of the private sector. Active case-finding among vulnerable populations Symptomatic screening of all outpatient department attendees for TB. Symptomatic screening of children at maternal neonatal child health clinics. Increase access to diagnostic examinations. Contact tracing of TB patients. Massive awareness creation using the media, national TV hotline, and community structures.”
On childhood tuberculosis, Babajide Kadiri, Lagos state Team Lead USAID IHVN TB LON 3 Project, said that TB disease in children under 15 years of age is a public health problem of social significance because it represents a recent transmission from an infectious adult.
Kadiri observed that challenges with childhood TB control include, “no childhood TB awareness among the general population, poor health-seeking behaviour, stigma and discrimination, Limited Media engagement in TB awareness creation, low index of suspicion for child TB by health providers, and low funding for childhood TB control.”
Discouraging members of the society against TB stigmatisation and discrimination he said that “once a person with TB is stigmatised, it becomes