The Ondo State government on Monday commemorated World Tuberculosis Day with an awareness programme and free screening in the state.

The 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.”

Stephen Fagbemi, the director of public health at the Ondo State Ministry of Health, said the programme was meant to create awareness and screen residents.

Mr Fagbemi said the government and supporting partner were committed to eradicating tuberculosis in the state and Nigeria.

He added that the state government was doing a lot to prevent and treat the disease.

“Nigeria is a young, growing population; the 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 careers because it’s a disease that ravages the lungs.

“There is hardly any sport you can do without healthy lungs. So, we want to make sure that the lungs are healthy. We have never had this kind of idea before; it is very innovative too,” Mr Fagbemi said.

He also advised pregnant women to deliver their babies in the hospital for their vaccination “because the dose will protect them for life.”

Mr Fagbemi said anyone coughing for more than a week should visit the hospital because the screening and treatment were free.

Also, Oluwafemi Aina, head of the tuberculosis and leprosy control programme in the state, said the theme, “Tuberculolypics”, was to create awareness of the dangers of the disease through sports.

Mr 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.

Mr Aina noted that the state had started the screening through the free X-ray for anyone who showed a sign or trace of the symptoms of the disease.

(NAN)