RSG Urges Community Leaders Proactiveness On TB Cure

The Rivers State Govern
ment has told traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state to be proactive and encourage their people on ways to access treatment for Tuberculosis(TB) and other ailments.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tamunoiyoriari S. Parker made the request Monday, during the flag-off of 2014 World Tuberculosis Day(WTD) Celebration organized by the state government at Akiknima, Headquarters of  Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
Parker who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Ipalibo Harry, said due to ignorance, many have lost their lives as a result of illnesses due to TB and explained that treatment of TB from diagnosis to drug administration have been made available entirely free in various hospitals and health centres in the state.
Speaking on this year’s theme, Find TB, Treat TB: Working Together To Eliminate TB, charged the leaders to thoroughly explain to the understanding of their people that treatment and cure for TB and other ailments could be sort in medical centres in their areas.
The commissioner used the opportunity urge residents of the state to avail themselves the opportunity of free Medical Care programme provided by the state government, stating that the present administration has invested a lot in the health sector to improve the health status of the people.
According to him, our  government and able Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi has been able to site health centres in every nook and cranny of the state, make sure you visit these health facilities regularly for medical checkups and subsequent treatment’’.
Earlier, Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Health care Management Board(RSPHCMB), chairman of the event, Dr. Uriah S.  Etawo who gave a brief history of  TB identified it as an age old viral disease which manifests with continuous cough for two weeks.
He expressed optimism that with the level of awareness being created, the disease would not only be controlled but entirely eradicated in the shortest possible time.
Also speaking, the Control Officer in charge of TB and Leprosy, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Kingsley Aleruchi, noted that of the nine million people affected by the disease globally, three million do not have access to treatment.
In their  goodwill messages, the representative of World Health Organisation, South-South Zone, Dr Mike Jose, Tuberculoses Network, Mr Messiah Mosang and the Paramount Ruler of Akinima Comunity, King Adide Dimkpa, Yellow Mazi, described TB as a global problem and thanked the state government for its efforts in ensuring that sufferers of the disease are given adequate attention.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of stethoscopes and other equipment used in the detection of tuberculosis virus to the Medical Officers of Health in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

L-R: Chief Research Fellow (Clinical Services), Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Dr Dan Onwujekwe, Director-General, NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah, Research Fellow, Dr Paschal Ezeobi, Chief Research Fellow, National Tuberculosis Reference Library, Dr Catherine Onuobogu and immediate past Director-General, NIMR, Prof. Oni Idigbe, at the inauguration of X-Ray unit of the institute in Lagos, last Monday.

Tonye Nria-Dappa