BY Maryam Abdullahi
Nimkong Ndam, commissioner for health in Plateau, says there is a surge in cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
Ndam spoke on Friday at a sensitisation and screening programme to commemorate the 2023 world tuberculosis day in Jos, the Plateau capital.
World tuberculosis day is marked every year on March 24 to raise awareness of the devastating health impact of the disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said TB is a disease caused by bacteria (mycobacterium tuberculosis) that affects the lungs.
The disease can be spread through the air but can be cured and prevented if properly treated.
The commissioner, represented by Mafwalal Masok, director of public health, said 219 out of 100,000 persons are suffering from tuberculosis in the state.
He said more than 10,000 persons in the state suffered from the disease in 2022.
“So, the aim of this exercise is to create awareness and intensify TB case finding in the state,” the commissioner said.
“We are putting people who are vulnerable to developing active TB on preventive treatment.
“This will prevent community spreading. Every undiagnosed and untreated case is capable of infecting 15 people within a year.
“During the exercise, detected cases will be promptly placed on treatment, this will address the issue of low TB case finding.”
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