The rising scourge of Tuberculosis remains a public health concern in Nigeria despite efforts to ameliorate the prevalence.
With Nigeria having a high burden of Tuberculosis and low detection case rates, the county accounts for the highest rate of TB in Africa and sixth amongst 30 countries globally with the highest burden of the disease.
In commemoration of World TB Day, the theme ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives’ and Nigeria’s localized slogan ‘Give more, Do more, End TB now’, the Kano state government has reassured its commitment towards alleviating the disease in the State.
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The Kano state Commissioner of Health Dr Aminu Tsanyawa spoke through the director of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr Nasir Alhassan Kabo, said that the commemoration of World TB day in Kano coincides with March 24 1887, when the renowned Scientist De Robert Koch discovered the disease.
He stated that since the coming of the current administration, the State Government has been doing well in reducing the burden and transmission of TB in the State in collaboration with implementing partners.
“Kano State is the most populous state in Nigeria and is among the five (5) states with the highest TB burden. Last year the burden stood at 32,873 while the State could detect 17,979, which is a 99% detection rate compared to 37% last year, the highest TB detection rate ever in Kano state and by any state. In Nigeria.” He said.
He stated that among the TB response in the State was the release of the state TB, and Leprosy counterpart finds for TB and Leprosy control activities, expanding the TB treatment facilities called Directly observed treatment centres (DOTs) from 381 in 2016 to 1245 in 2022.
He noted that the State has expanded laboratories providing diagnosis through Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) microscopy from & in 2016 to 242 in 2022, GeneXpert machines from 8 in 2015 to 23 machines in 2022, including the recent deployment of 2 number 16 modular machines to kano, amongst other TB responses in the State, stating that the successes recorded were achieved through the support and political will of the Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.Â
