A recent report by the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer, and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) still maintained that more than 18 Nigerians die hourly from TB.
Ever since 2017 when the World Health Organisation, WHO, first released a report that 18 Nigerians die hourly from Tuberculosis (TB), there have been efforts to stem the tide.
Deputy Director, NTBLCP in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Itohowo Uko, disclosed this recently in Lagos at an integrated media parley organised by Breakthrough Action Nigeria, in collaboration with the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN).
“According to the World Health Organisation 2017 global report, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, and Nigeria is classified among the 14 countries with high burden of TB.
“It is estimated that two out of every 1000 Nigerians will have TB. A total of 104,940 TB patients, representing about 20 percent of existing patients, were notified to the authorities in 2017. This means that there is a huge number of TB patients in communities that are not notified.
“Nigeria has the sixth largest burden of TB patients globally, and first in Africa. Out of the 104, 904 patients notified in 2017, 63 percent were aged between 15 and 44, the working age group being the most affected,” she said.
The statistics were scary and called on all stakeholders to show concern to ensure a Nigeria-free TB, reduced burden, as well as reach zero TB death.
On the dynamics of TB, she said TB is spread through the air when the person with TB of the lungs coughs, sneezes, sings or talks.
According to her, TB is curable and the patient is not termed as infectious after a few weeks of treatment.
Earlier in March 2023, ahead of World Tuberculosis Day, a senior Programme Officer with KNCV Nigeria, Dr. Cynthia Onwuteaka, described TB as the world’s second deadliest disease after COVID-19. She noted that 500,000 persons suffer from the disease, yearly.
In the significance of the 2023 World Tuberculosis Day with the theme, “Yes, We Can”, could not be over-emphasised as it would afford stakeholders the opportunity to create awareness on how more people could access the much-needed care.
According to the World Health Organisation, tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death globally, with about 4,500 lives lost per day and also identified as the major leading cause of death of HIV patients.
WHO said the disease is preventable and curable, while it called for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent spreading the disease to others.
According to the global TB reports in 2017, there are seven countries that accounted for 64 percent of the burden and 30 countries have been listed to have the high burden of the disease, leaving Nigeria on the list by securing the seventh position.
Other countries which preceded Nigeria are India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, and South Africa. Thus, this made Nigeria the second country in Africa with the highest burden of tuberculosis in 2017. Today, the story has changed as Nigeria now tops the least of the country with the highest TB burden in Africa.
In 2017, Nigeria recorded 403,000 incidences of TB, with 157,000 deaths.
But, the proportion declined steadily from that point up to 2021 when 467,000 cases and 125,000 deaths were reported. This gave a death-to-infection rate of 26.77 percent in 2021.
Apart from Mrs. Uko, who maintained that the figure has not changed as of late last year, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has taken the campaign against the scourge to radio and other platforms.
The medical Director of St Bridget Memorial Hospital, Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ohabuenyi, said he does not believe the authenticity of the report noting that the figure cannot be so accurate because of the positive interventions over the years.
He argued that if 18 Nigerians die every hour as the report stated, then it means that almost about 400 Nigerians die every day as a result of TB.
“So, the truth is that the figure may not be accurate as reported because TB is almost going into extinction; it is no longer prevalent. What is even resurfacing is HIV, but it is also being tackled. So, cases of TB are very insignificant,” he argued.
Diagnosis
How does one actually confirm that he/she has TB?
He said: “Clinical signs and symptoms include chronic coughs, weight loss, night sweat, and low grade fever.
“Another one is acid fast bacillus test, where the sputum or gastric fluids are used for the test. You make a slide in the lab and view it under a microscope and if the stain is acid fat, it is a positive sign.
“Such sputum or gastric fluids have to be taken for three consecutive days. The person has to cough out today, tomorrow and next tomorrow and if they are all reactive, then that’s it. The latest one is called genexpert; a DNA modulated test,” he said.
Prevention
The saying that prevention is better than cure aptly applies here, as Dr. Ohabuenyi listed some of the preventive measures to curtail the spread of TB where it already exists.
“Respiratory hygiene is number one. If someone knows how to cough, it helps. One is expected to fold his or her hand and cough in-between the elbow; that way, the droplets will fall on ground, and TB will not spread.
“Prompt diagnosis and treatment are also very important and all these should come under health education, where the importance of personal hygiene and cough etiquette among others are seriously emphasised,” he stated.
