The Kaduna State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme says it has recorded 2,103 new tuberculosis cases (TB) in the first quarter of 2021.

Its programme manager Abubakar Saqid disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Sadiq said tuberculosis case detection had increased from 4,404 in 2019 to 5,878 in 2020 and 2,103 new cases in the first quarter of 2021.

According to him, the figure represents an increase of 33 per cent compared to the 2019 number reported despite
the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown challenges.

He added that “this case detection rate only represents 30 per cent of the state tuberculosis case detection target, which means that more work needs to be done.”

The manager noted that the programme would engage medical healers, private chemists, and traditional birth
attendants in the identification of tuberculosis cases in the state.

Mr Sadiq explained, “They are the first contact for some people in some communities. The people believe in this group of health personnel than going to any health facility.

“We are engaging them now so that they can assist us in our case identification by referring them to the hospital for Tuberculosis test.’’

He noted that other strategies to improve active case finding included target outreaches, house-to-house search, and screening of all hospital attendees in secondary and tertiary health facilities.

According to him, the number of facilities providing TB services in the state has been scaled up from 43 per cent to 62 per cent coverage across the entire state.

“This, we will continue to support till every facility is providing TB services in the state,’’ added Mr Sadiq.

He called on residents to get tested and confirm if they have the disease, especially when they have a cough for more than two weeks, assuring them that the disease is curable and treated free of charge.