Nigeria records 440,000 new cases of TB annually- Official

By Muhammad Muhammad

Coordinator, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike says that Nigeria is still battling with the Tuberculosis crisis with estimated 440,000 new cases recorded annually.

Dr. Chukwuma worried that besides the reported new cases, over 300,000 TB carriers are missing from treatment circle across the country with possibility of one carrier infecting a minimum of 15 persons.

Despite the scaring figures, he revealed the dangerous trend and prevalence in new babies and children in the country.

The Coordinator spoke at the opening of 2021 Annual Review Meeting on Wednesday of National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Program holding in Kano.

Dr. Chukwuma who raised concern on awareness deficit about the danger inherent in TB, said Nigeria is still harboring huge burden of the disease leading with highest burden in Africa and sixth globally. He said despite the prevalence only 27 percent of Nigeria population are aware of the enormity of the disease.

He explained that the review meeting was aimed at evaluating efforts of the program in the last 12 months with the hope of scaling efforts. Dr. Chukwuma said the meeting also afford the privilege of  unveiling the nation’s 2021 to 2025 strategic plan and implementation toward global action of eradicating TB before 2030.

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“We have very strong issue in Nigeria as regards to TB and the worrisome aspect of it is knowledge and awareness about TB. By our findings, only 27 percent of Nigerians believed TB is still a major medical challenge this is not good enough.

“Nigeria control significant TB burden globally, number one in Africa and sixth in the world. And every year, we have estimated 444,000 new cases in the country and attempt to fish them out can only yield less than 50 percent of the total figure.

“Despite COVID-19 pandemic, we have 138,491 new cases, even above 300,000 missing persons with TB. The challenge before us now is how to fish out those missing across the country because one untreated TB case is capable of spreading and infecting 15 to 20 people. And this is a yearly occurrence and the only way to cut the chain of TB spread in the country is to capture the missing persons and administer proper treatment and cure.

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Dr. Chukmuma added that, “Unlike other diseases, TB is in the air and does not respect anybody. When you pass across the carrier, you contact it and it manifest immediately because your immune system is not strong or it your immune is strong enough it stays hang in your lump until your immune drops before its attack the body system.

He added that, “We are now coming up with National and sub-national prevalence survey of TB in Nigeria to know which state and local government area carries the burden more and that is when we can categorical say a particular state has more or rank higher.”.