Tuberculosis not caused by spiritual forces, treatment free – FG - Buzzyforum
Tuberculosis not caused by spiritual forces, treatment free – FG
The Federal Government on Saturday said spiritual forces do not cause tuberculosis, and it can be cured.
The government also restated that TB screening and treatment are free in government-owned health facilities.
The Deputy Director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Urhioke Ochuko, said this during a road show and awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate the World TB Day theme: “Yes! We can end TB: commit, invest, and deliver.”
World TB Day is commemorated on March 24th annually to raise awareness on TB and to mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and healthcare financing for TB towards elimination.
Ochuko said the road walk was to encourage Abuja residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent coughs, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and other TB symptoms.
He noted that TB is preventable and curable and stressed the need for early detection and treatment to stop its spread.
“The whole essence of this exercise is to get people around, people within the marketplace, the areas where we’ve moved through, to be able to know that TB is still with us, and for them to get the right message. If anyone is coughing for two weeks or more, has a fever that has lasted for more than two weeks, or is losing weight unintentionally, they should seek care at the nearest hospital closer to them so that they can be tested.
“If they are found to have TB, they will be treated for free. So the whole essence is to say that TB is still with us. It is not caused by superstition; it is not caused by spiritual forces; it is caused by germs that can be cured.”
He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in the fight against TB, there is a need for more effort to target undiagnosed TB cases, especially those in underserved areas.
He said, “We’ve made good progress in terms of the fight against TB because, in recent years, we’ve been able to improve TB case notification. Last year, we were able to enrol over 400,000 Nigerians on TB treatment out of about 500,000 estimated to have the disease.
“The government has deployed digital X-ray machines to health facilities and communities across the country to enhance prompt screening and diagnosis of TB.
https://punchng.com/tuberculosis-not-caused-by-spiritual-forces-treatment-free-fg/
The government also restated that TB screening and treatment are free in government-owned health facilities.
The Deputy Director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Urhioke Ochuko, said this during a road show and awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate the World TB Day theme: “Yes! We can end TB: commit, invest, and deliver.”
World TB Day is commemorated on March 24th annually to raise awareness on TB and to mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and healthcare financing for TB towards elimination.
Ochuko said the road walk was to encourage Abuja residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent coughs, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and other TB symptoms.
He noted that TB is preventable and curable and stressed the need for early detection and treatment to stop its spread.
“The whole essence of this exercise is to get people around, people within the marketplace, the areas where we’ve moved through, to be able to know that TB is still with us, and for them to get the right message. If anyone is coughing for two weeks or more, has a fever that has lasted for more than two weeks, or is losing weight unintentionally, they should seek care at the nearest hospital closer to them so that they can be tested.
“If they are found to have TB, they will be treated for free. So the whole essence is to say that TB is still with us. It is not caused by superstition; it is not caused by spiritual forces; it is caused by germs that can be cured.”
He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in the fight against TB, there is a need for more effort to target undiagnosed TB cases, especially those in underserved areas.
He said, “We’ve made good progress in terms of the fight against TB because, in recent years, we’ve been able to improve TB case notification. Last year, we were able to enrol over 400,000 Nigerians on TB treatment out of about 500,000 estimated to have the disease.
“The government has deployed digital X-ray machines to health facilities and communities across the country to enhance prompt screening and diagnosis of TB.
https://punchng.com/tuberculosis-not-caused-by-spiritual-forces-treatment-free-fg/
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