Bauchi State Government says it treated a total of 7,435 individuals afflicted with Tuberculosis (TB) across all 20 local government areas within the state in 2023.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Adamu Sambo, stated this at a news conference to commemorate the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day on Sunday in Bauchi.
Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and which usually affects the lungs.
The theme for this year’s Day is: “Yes!”, with the slogan: “We Can End TB”.
The commissioner said that the treatment had allowed government to assess the progress made toward achieving the End TB Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Sambo, represented by Director of Medical Services in the ministry, said that the state government successfully treated a total of 7,435 cases, thereby achieving a 96 per cent treatment success rate (TSR) at the end of 2023.
“It is gratifying to inform you that in 2023, Bauchi State detected and notified 9,332 drug-susceptible TB cases in 2023, as against 7,806 in 2022.
“With an estimated TB target of 16,092 in 2023, the state had achieved a 57.9 per cent performance in TB case notification and out of the 7,730 new TB cases detected and registered for treatment in 2022,” he said.
The commissioner said due to the Gov. Bala Mohammed-led administration’s commitment, significant progress had been made in terms of TB control, both at the state and local government levels.
“There are currently 794 free TB treatment centres, 127 diagnostic centres 16 genexpert, three truant and eight TB lamp machines.
“These are the latest machines that diagnose both the drug-sensitive TB bacteria and the drug-resistant strain of the bacteria that cause multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) form of TB.
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“It is interesting to note that all the 20 LGAs in Bauchi state have, at least, one of the latest machines for molecular diagnosis of TB.
“Our united effort is needed to reach those at highest risk for TB and to identify and implement innovative strategies to improve testing and treatment among high-risk populations,” he said.
Sambo called on all stakeholders, international organisations, civil society organisations, religious, traditional/community leaders and the private sector to join the drive to roll out the strategy to treat and cure those suffering from the disease.
He said that this year’s commemoration would come with a series of activities aimed at increasing awareness in the state.
On his part, Director Tuberculosis and Leprosy at the State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr Yakubu Gide, appreciated the numerous donor-partners, said that government was looking at forward to the sustained and better partnership.
NAN
