By Ahmed Attahir Gusau
The zamfara state commissioner for health, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed kanoma has disclosed that Tuberculosis treatment centers have been increased to 367 in the state.
This comes as the commissioner also revealed that 2542 cases of Tuberculosis were confirmed in the state.
Kanoma spoke at a press conference held on Wednesday in Gusau to mark the world TB day.
The theme for this year was “Clock is ticking”, he said Tuberculosis Report globally in 2019, indicated that Nigeria ranked number one in Africa and globally six amongst the 30 high TB burden countries as well as 14 countries with triple high TB burden, saying an estimate of 429,000 People in Nigeria have TB each year.
According to him, Zamfara state has 20,997 People tested for tuberculosis out of which 2,542 have been confirmed with TB cases in 2020 across the State.
He said, Zamfara State Government through the Ministry of health, partners with colleagues around the world to meet the global target of ending the TB in 2030, stressing that all stakeholders must join hand with state government to adopt a multi sectorial approach towards TB control.
“Zamfara State Goverment and it’s partners have been able to expand TB treatment centers from 244 to 326, including all private health facilities, TB diagnostic centers was also increased from 147 to 173 respectively”.
The commissioner stressed that underfunding and low awareness of TB disease among the general population are major challenges affecting TB Programme in Nigeria, Zamfara State inclusive.
“Through my Ministry we are making effort to ameliorate the challenge” Kanoma added.
