Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire during the launching of compendium of best practices Tuberculosis in Abuja. Photo: Emmanuel Kutara
A compendium of Best practices of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme has been inaugurated in Abuja to serve as a reference point for other public health responses.
At the Launch in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said the document which was a compilation of strategic interventions in the fight against TB would be useful for stakeholders in the sector.
He explained that it was in commemoration of the continued increase in case notification of TB in the country.
The Minister of Health admitted that Nigeria alongside other countries suffered the negative impact of the pandemic, especially in the disruption of various health programs,
He, however, explained that the implementation of the strategic interventions put in place by the TB programme managers, including the integration of TB control into covid-19 response measures led to an increase in TB case notification in 2020.
“Beyond this, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme recorded a remarkable increase in 2021 in the annual TB notification when numbers increased by a whopping 50% from over one hundred and thirty eight thousand in 2020 to over two hundred and seven thousand in 2021.’’
The Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr Chukwuma Ayaike in an emotion-laden speech eulogized the contributions of some TB advocates who died in active service including Dr Ayodele Awe and Dr Lovett Lawson.
The programme manager for TB in the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, IHVN, Dr Taofeekat Ali who noted that the achievement would not have been made without the involvement of the private sector, said more is needed to be done to improve on the case findings.
Radio Nigeria reports that other stakeholders at the event promised to sustain their support of Nigeria’s health sector.
Reporting by Emmanuel Kutara; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino