Out of nearly 6,000 instances of tuberculosis reported in Ogun State in 2023, no fewer than 300 individuals passed away from the disease.
This coincides with reports that the number of tuberculosis cases in the state has increased by 100% in recent years.
At the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day, Ms. Florinda Olawusi, the Senior Programme Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, revealed this to reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Concerning a 100% increase from 2019, Olawusi added that 3,000 cases were reported in 2019 based on data from the IHVN and USAID TB-LON 3 project for Ogun State.
About 95% of the patients were already placed on treatment, she noted.
“Since the inception of the TB long 3 project in Ogun State which started in 2019, Ogun State was diagnosing a little over 3,000 cases annually but presently from 2019 till now for example last year in 12 months, they were able to diagnose over 6,000 cases which is a huge increment. It’s over a 100% increase in the number of cases diagnosed.
“The treatment lasts for six months. So, what that means is that after six months, once the duration of the treatment is complete, the patient leaves the programme As of last year, we were able to identify 6,000 cases and 95% of them were placed on treatment,” she said.
Responding to questions on the number of deaths, she said “There have been some TB-related deaths in the past year. A little over 300 patients died from TB-related causes last year in Ogun State.”
Olusola Taiwo, The State Programme Manager for TB and Leprosy Control said, “One of the predisposing factors for TB infection is staying in an overcrowded environment, so people should stay where there is good ventilation, indiscriminate pit, they should try put on their coughing etiquette to prevent the spreading of TB germs.”
Omotunde Ogunlaja, a representative of the World Health Organization, encouraged locals to report any suspected symptoms by speaking up and getting in touch with the closest medical facility.
“We just like to tell the residents that TB is curable and we can end it so anybody that shows the signs, coughing for two weeks or more should go to the health facilities and get themselves accessed.
“The assessment is free, and treatment is free, and also, those on the treatment should not be set aside. They should use their drugs” she added.
