TUBERCULOSIS IS ON THE RISE IN THE COUNTRY

The number of tuberculosis cases in the country is on the increase despite efforts by government and others to tackle the problem, minister of health Onyebuchi Chukwu has said. According to The Guardian, Chukwu said about 97,799 TB cases were recorded in 2012; 83% of these cases were tested for the human immunodeficiency virus with a positivity rate of 26%. Nigeria was still among 22 high burden countries that contributed 80% of the estimated 8.7 million new TB cases globally in 2012. A total of 190,000 new cases were estimated in the country in 2011, out of which 27,000 persons died.

The minister, who spoke during an occasion to commemorate the 2013 World TB Day in Abuja Saturday, added that the burden of TB in Nigeria was further worsened by challenges of HIV co-infection, drug-resistant TB and TB among children. While reeling out what the federal government has done to commit resources to the problem, Mr Chukwu called on individuals and families to contribute to the fight against the disease by “identifying and encouraging anyone who has cough of more than two week’s duration to go for TB screening and supporting those on TB treatment to complete their full course, which normally lasts six months.”

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Ewooo!