Health workers from the South East recently gathered in Awka, Anambra State, for a three-day training on how to use ultra-portable x-ray machines to diagnose tuberculosis (TB).
The device, known as FDR Xair, was developed by Fujifilm Corporation. It is designed for use in places where hospital access is difficult, such as remote communities, patients’ homes, disaster areas, or locations without steady electricity.
The machine was introduced in Nigeria because of the country’s high TB burden. Reports show that Nigeria ranks first in Africa and sixth in the world, accounting for about 4.6% of global TB cases.
Tragically, an estimated 15 Nigerians die from TB every hour. This equals about 347 deaths daily, over 10,000 monthly, and 125,000 each year.
Dr. Michael Sheshi, Director of Private Sector TB Control at KNCV Nigeria, explained that his organization has been supporting the Federal Government in tackling TB, HIV, COVID-19, and other health challenges.
He said the new device uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect TB early. The x-ray takes an image of the chest, and the AI immediately analyses it to suggest whether or not a patient likely has TB.
According to him, the technology has already proven effective. “We are now identifying TB cases much earlier, even before patients show severe symptoms that make them spread the disease,” he said.
Dr. Sheshi added that the training will be extended to other regions of the country, noting that his team first encountered the technology in Ghana in 2020. After a successful trial in Nigeria, international partners such as USAID and the Global Fund funded the purchase of hundreds of the machines.
He explained that 27 health workers from the South East were trained, and each state will soon receive over 10 machines. Anambra, for example, will get 13 machines—seven for community outreach and six for hospitals.
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, praised the initiative, noting that the machines are solar-powered and can take up to 200 patient scans on a single charge. He said the project would especially benefit hard-to-reach communities in Ayamelum, Anambra East, and Anambra West.
The commissioner stressed that TB remains a serious problem, with over 2,900 cases currently recorded in the state. “The essence of this initiative is to identify more cases early and prevent them from going unnoticed,” he said.
A Fujifilm specialist, Satmit Kaur, explained that the machine is light, weighing just 3.5 kilograms, and delivers image quality similar to standard hospital x-ray machines. It can be used for chest, abdominal, and other examinations.
Kaur also highlighted that the system requires very low radiation and works with AI, which provides instant results. While radiologists still verify the findings, doctors can begin treatment immediately.
Health workers from Abia and Enugu states also shared their views. Dr. Kingsley Dozie Lawrence from Abia said the machines would help reach people who are afraid or unable to visit hospitals. He assured that the state would launch awareness campaigns and train more health workers.
Similarly, radiographer Uchechukwu Ann Obiageli from Enugwu-Ukwu General Hospital in Anambra said the machines arrived at the right time. She noted that TB is common among HIV patients, and her hospital sees a high number of such cases.
