Minna – The Niger State Government on Thursday said it recorded 66 deaths from Tuberculosis (TB) out of 1,611 detected cases of the disease in 2015.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mustapha Jibril, made this known in Minna at a press briefing to mark this year’s World Tuberculosis Day.
Jibril said that out of the cases detected in the state in 2015, 883 were successfully treated and cured of the disease while 24 patients defaulted.
“Out of 1611 cases of TB detected in the state last year, 883 were successfully treated; representing 85 per cent, 66 died, representing six per cent and 24 people defaulted, which represent two per cent.
“Forty eight per cent of the estimated TB cases detected in 2015 at a prevalence of 31/100, 000 and the national target is for states to detect 70 per cent of all TB cases.
“Although a lot of progress has been made in the last two decades in TB control, with Niger state achieving 85 per cent cure rate in treatment outcome but many challenges remain,” he said.
He said the state government had put in place strategies to address the burden of the disease in the state.
“The establishment of Tuberculosis Disease Control Programme, awareness creation and sensitisation, and active surveillance system for case detection to the community level are part of measures to address the burden of TB in our state.
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“We will also equip our hospitals to be able to diagnose tuberculosis and manage it, including availability of free treatment,” the commissioner said.
He stated that the state was working closely with supporting partners in the state to ensure that all TB patients receive the needed attention they deserve.
NAN reports that the World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 yearly to build awareness about the global epidemic of TB and efforts to eliminate the disease. (NAN)