7,806 cases of tuberculosis were recorded in Bauchi State for 2022. Dr Sani Mohammad, Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria, said at a press conference to mark World Tuberculosis Day 2023 in Bauchi on Monday. He said the figure was an increase of 2,154 over the 5,652 recorded in 2021.
The WHO set aside March 24 to mark World TB Day annually to raise awareness about tuberculosis and efforts to end the pandemic.
He also said the 2022 figures, representing an increase of about 53% from 2021 levels, are the highest ever recorded in the state.
“Out of the 5,518 new cases that were placed on treatment in 2022, about 5,192; that is 94 per cent were successfully treated at the end of the year.
“Bauchi State currently has 794 free tuberculosis treatment centres, 127 diagnostic centres and 15 GeneXperts,’’ he said.
Mohammed said the state government, in collaboration with implementing partners such as Breakthrough Action-Nigeria, was conducting active case findings across Bauchi State.
He said that the 2023 World TB Day would be celebrated with a series of phone-in television and radio programmes to increase awareness.
Nutritional support for some patients and combined free testing and treatment for tuberculosis, COVID-19, HIV, Hepatitis and Malaria, would also be provided, he added.
In his remarks, Dr Yakubu Abdullahi, Director of the Tuberculosis Control Programme in Bauchi State, said the agency would train paediatric doctors from secondary and tertiary institutions on case detection among children.
He said that there was collaboration also between the agency and nutritional clinics in the state to detect tuberculosis in children.
“Diagnosing tuberculosis in children is a challenge, but we have decided to use their stools as samples,’’ Abdullahi said.
cc: Punch Ng
