KEHINDE EMMANUEL, ILORIN
The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Kwara chapter on Wednesday sensitised market people and traders on the need to get tested and treatment on tuberculosis (TB).
Prof. Aisha Gobir, Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) who addressed the traders explained that TB is a contagious infection that usually attacks the lungs.
According to her, it can also spread to other parts of the body, like the brain, kidney, legs and spine, among others.
The Paediatrician pointed out that TB is a long-term illness that also required long term treatment, adding that conditions like HIV/AIDs which destroys body immunity can worsen cases of TB.
“Tuberculosis is curable through early diagnosis and treatment which is key to stopping the spread of TB,” she said.
The expert noted that TB is caused by bacteria that spread through the air, just like a cold and flu which can be contacted through people who have it.
Gobir appealed to mothers and care givers to ensure newly born babies are immunised early with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine, primarily used against tuberculosis.
She added that one dose is recommended in healthy babies as soon after birth as possible.
Also speaking with our reporter, Dr Peace Okoro, Physician at the UITH, explained that MWAN-Kwara is collaborating with the state’s ministry of health to ensure that people at the grassroots are sensitized on the danger of the disease.
She said that about 1.5 million people died of the disease in 2020, while worldwide TB is the 13th leading cause of death.
“It is also the second infectious killer disease after COVID-19. In 2020 about 10 million people fell ill with TB worldwide,” she said.
Okoro emphasised that TB is curable and the treatment is free.
Dr Alatishe-Muhammad, the Kwara-MWAN President the association is marking the day with awareness campaign across some markets in Ilorin, noting that these are segments of people that may not easily get such information as they are busy in the markets.
She added that the state government had ensures that testing and treatment are easily accessible across the 16 local government area, as well as the UITH and General Hospitals in the states.
“The theme of the 2022 TB day is “Invest to end TB”, which is apt. People should not ignore any cough that occurs regularly for more than two weeks.
“The risen cases of TB is as a result of people not taking cognisance that the cough may be TB, and refuse to seek medical help while patronising parent medicine stores,” she said.
Our correspondent, reports sidelines of the activities includes distribution of fliers on TB and medical tests for some markets traders.
