FG Confirms Over 2,000 TB Cases In Six Months In Plateau State

By Murphy Akanji

The National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme has confirmed that over 2,000 positive tuberculosis cases have been detected in the first half of 2023 in Plateau State.

The Zonal Medical Officer in charge of the NTBLCP in the North Central, Dr. Shedrack Dimang, confirmed this on Monday, 14 August in Jos at the commencement of the national tuberculosis testing week.

According to Dimang, the positive cases were detected from hospitals and outreaches conducted in the state.

“The rise in case detection is a result of an increase in public awareness and the public doing away with misconceptions as regards the disease.

“The week-long testing aims to create awareness about tuberculosis and to also intensify TB case findings.

“We also aim at putting those vulnerable to developing active TB on preventive treatment and prevent community spreading, as every undiagnosed and untreated case could infect 15 people within a year,’’ he said.

Dimang noted that during the testing week, those detected would be promptly placed on treatment as there would be prompt notification of persons who tested positive.

He said the act would help address the issue of low TB case findings due to low awareness of the disease.

Similarly, the Programme Officer in charge of TB at the Breakthrough Action, Dr Bunmi Alagbe, said the essence of the week was to increase TB case findings, as Plateau State has a high prevalence rate.

According to Alagbe, in 2022 alone, over 3,670 cases of TB were detected.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Cletus Shurkuk, said the essence of the week was to create a massive awareness of TB via community outreaches, as the weeklong test would hold in the 17 local government areas of the state.