AKURE (Sundiata Post) – The Ondo State Government on Monday commemorated the World Tuberculosis Day with awareness programme and free screening in the state.
reports that programme was held at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, with the screening of over 142 athletes and officials of the state sports council for Tuberculosis.
The programme jointly organised by the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (STBLCP) and Damien Foundation, has as its theme: ”Tuberculolympics; Tuberculosis control and sport fusion 1.0”.
Speaking, Dr Stephen Fagbemi, the Director of Public Health, Ondo State Ministry of Health, said the programme was to create awareness and screen residents
Fagbemi said government and supporting partner were committed to eradicating Tuberculosis in the state and Nigeria at large.
He added that the state government was doing a lot in preventing and the treatment of the disease in the state.
“Nigeria is a young growing population, majority of our population is young under the age of 40, and the youths are also involved in sports, Tuberculosis is one disease that can stop sports career because it’s a disease that ravaged the lungs.
“There is hardly any sports you can do without healthy lungs. So, we want to make sure that lungs are healthy we have never had this kind of idea before, it is very innovative too.
“Sports is what catches attention of young people, this is going to go viral, other young people too will be looking at their health,” he said.
He also advised pregnant women to deliver their babies in the hospital for them to have their vaccination, “because the dose will protect them for life.”
He said anyone coughing more than a week should visit the hospital because the screening and treatment were free.
Also, Dr Oluwafemi Aina, Head of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control programme in the state, said the theme, ‘Tuberculolypics’ was to create awareness on dangers of the disease through sports.
Aina said diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis were free, and urged everyone to commit and help end the disease.
He appreciated the ministry of sports and the sports council for partnering with the health ministry and making themselves available for screening.
Aina noted that the state had started the screening through the free x-ray for anyone that showed sign or trace of the symptoms of the disease.
Similarly, Mr Michael Fasonu, State Technical Assistant, Damien Foundation, said the programme was also a way of sensitising people to recognise the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Fasonu said the programme leveraged on the popularity of sports to create awareness amongst the people of the state.
He noted that as athletes were preparing for the Niger Delta Sports Festival, the programme was an opportunity for them to get tested. (NAN)
