Kaduna State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Programme on Friday said it had recorded 4,474 TB new cases in the state.

The State Deputy Programme Manager, Dr Sani Aminu, said this during a one-day engagement meeting with civil society and private sector organisations for Tuberculosis Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Kaduna.

The meeting was organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Development Governance International Consult (DGI).

Mr Aminu said the figure represents an 80 per cent increase when compared to a 114 per cent increase in Q1 of 2021 TB case findings.

“In 2022, from January to date, we have recorded confirmed cases of 8,980 and we are still working hard to identify missing cases,” he said.

Mr Aminu said tuberculosis cases were on the increase and as such the target of zero-death by 2030 cannot be achieved, so it should be extended.

According to him, the tuberculosis programme faces challenges of finding the gap, as well as dwindling support from international donor agencies.

Other challenges are the gap between case finding, pediatric case finding, and sub-optimal health facility coverage with tuberculosis services.

Mr Aminu urged the government to take greater responsibility in the implementation of tuberculosis control activities.

He said that the programme had expanded its services in the state to 976 treatment centres and all patients had been placed on free treatment.

“These centres cover all the 31 general hospitals, 672 primary health centres, 222 private health facilities, 48 faith-based facilities, and three tertiary centres.

“The state government had also procured five mobile diagnostic trucks equipped with digital X-ray machines and 10 colour gene expert machines for the integrated diagnosis of tuberculosis, COVID-19, and various other diseases in remote communities across the state.

“This will no doubt increase tuberculosis case findings in the state,” Mr Aminu said.

He added that the programme planned to intensify its tuberculosis case-finding activities through community active search, increased access to services through dots expansion, intensified out-patient door screening and tuberculosis patient contact investigation.

Mr Aminu said that it would also intensify its private sector engagement and increase pediatric diagnosis through the engagement of nutrition clinics, chest X-rays and stool testing for tuberculosis.

Also speaking, Dr Kenneth Adaba of the Development Governance International Consult said the meeting was to present the overview of the state Tuberculosis and Leprosy programme highlighting achievements, successes and gaps.

Mr Adaba said the meeting was also convened to secure the commitment of private sector organisations towards supporting the state Tuberculosis programme.

“We are here to also sensitise the civil societies on their advocacy roles and responsibilities in the DRM for the state tuberculosis programme.

“We also want to chart a course of action towards putting health, particularly tuberculosis in the political agenda of the 2023 election in the state,” he added.’

Earlier in his speech, the Deputy Director of Public Health, State Ministry of Health, Dr Salisu Shaiubu said, ”tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is subconscious to old age.

“The state is ready to welcome every organisation that is ready to collaborate against the disease.” 

(NAN)