The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has extended its campaign against tuberculosis (TB) and the stigmatisation of TB patients to junior and senior secondary schools in Jigawa State.
Leading the awareness team to Dutse Mega School on Thursday, the State Director of the agency, Mr Ahmad Tijjani, described tuberculosis as a persistent public health threat in Nigeria, with lives lost daily due to low awareness and misinformation about the disease.
He said the NOA, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, was committed to sensitising citizens—especially students—on the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of tuberculosis, as well as the importance of compassion toward affected individuals.
“This campaign is not only about preventing the spread of TB, but also about breaking the stigma that often forces patients into silence and isolation,” Tijjani said.
The Deputy Director of Health Education at the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr Sani Yusuf also addressed students on best practices for disease prevention and control.
The outreach forms part of a four-month anti-TB and anti-stigma campaign launched across Jigawa on Wednesday. The initiative targets schoolchildren, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the wider public.
Highlights of the school event included an interactive session where students asked questions and received practical guidance from health educators.
