The management of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), says it is ready to partner with any group interested in sensitising issues on tuberculosis (TB) to reduce the scourge in our society.

The General manager of the corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo made the remarks last Friday when the Rivers State chapter of TB Network paid him a courtesy visit in his office.  Mr Ogolo noted that the high incidence of the disease would better be addressed if enough information concerning it was properly publicised as to guide the people on what steps to take.

He said ignorance remained a worrying factor on TB issues especially at the local areas and advised the network to expand its frontiers to the grassroots and assured that The Tide would give needed encouragement to the Network in covering its programmes and assisting in printing their materials at subsidised rate as part of the corporation’s contribution towards improving the health of the people. He explained that the corporation with experienced  hands remained the printers first choice in printing quality jobs at comparatively better charges and maintained that the corporation would strive towards sustaining the feat achieved as the longest existing state-owned newspaper in Nigeria.

“I assure you of good coverage and will partner with you to promote your efforts,” the GM said.

Earlier, the Focal Person of the state chapter of TB Network, Mr Messiah Fyneface Muzan said the group’s visit on the general manager of the corporation was part of its advocacy programmes and solicited for the support of the printing company to actualise its programmes.

Mr Muzan described TB as being worst than the dreaded HIV, stressing the need for all hands to be on deck towards finding solution to the disease which he said had increased in our society.

He particularly appealed for publication of its programmes in its publications especially through the corporation’s well established health columns. The group’s focal person disclosed that through its sub receptive (Health Alife Foundation) it had been able to raise about 150 volunteers in 10 local government areas of the state.

He stated that the volunteers who had been educated on TB issues visit the local areas to advise people especially on the early signs of TB and direct those with symptoms of the disease to the centre for free tests and possibly provide free medication to those whose tests proved positive.

Mr Muzan said preparation was on high level towards organising this year’s World TB Day which comes up on 24th of this month. he further noted that the theme for this year’s TB Day is “stopping TB in our life time” and urged all and sundry to show active concern to the issue of TB.

Chris Oluoh