Nation
NGO Tasks Nigerians On Regular TB Test
AIDS Healthcare Foundation has advised Nigerians to regularly go for Tuberculosis (TB) test to ascertain their status in order to reduce mortality.
Dr. Abater Aondohemba, the Antiritroviral Therapy Physician and Coordinator of AHF in Benue, said this on Thursday during a walk organised to celebrate the World Tuberculosis Day in Makurdi.
Abater said that TB is a highly infectious disease that largely affects low and middle income countries of Africa.
He disclosed that about eight to nine million cases of TB and about 1.5 million deaths especially in children are recorded yearly worldwide.
“TB is preventable and curable but we have to avoid the stigma and call on all patients and people who have a symptom of cough for more than two weeks to get tested.
“Advocacy for people to increase their health-seeking behaviour and get tested and treated would help reduce the rate of transmission.” Abater said.
He explained that those who were not infected were placed on TB prevention therapy, hence reducing the rate of mortality.
Also speaking, Taofeek Adeleye, the Prevention Manager of AHF said that the organisation was trying to raise awareness to let people understand that TB was curable, preventable and treatable.
He said that though AHF focuses on HIV services, HIV/TB are co-infections, which makes TB more deadlier.
“Coming from the background that we have more than 500 cases in Nigeria every year, it is important to encourage our clients to be weary of TB.
“When we have people infected with HIV we initiate them to preventive therapy for TB to help them reduce their chances of contacting the disease,” he said
He also said that when an HIV positive person is infected with TB, it becomes quiet challenging for them and puts the client at a severe clinical stage.
He added that TB was one of the leading cause of deaths of people living with HIV, hence the need for regular checks.
Ruth Atabo the State Nursing Coordinator said the symptoms of Tuberculosis include severe cough, fever, night sweat and weight loss.
She advised anyone with such symptoms to visit any recognised health facility and get tested free of charge.
Atabo said that there are latent and active phases of TB, adding that when an HIV person is infected with TB it becomes active and very infectious requiring contact tracing on the patient.
“ Early diagnosis and early treatment helps prevent the disease. The treatment takes 6-12 months to be cured.” She said
The walk to create on the danger of TB was held from AHF office to High level roundabout in Makurdi.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
CHINEDU WOSU
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