RSG Mulls TB Centres In Private Hospitals …Says 250 Already Functional

The Rivers State Ministry of Health says it plans to set up Tuberculosis (TB) centres in private hospitals across the state.
The state Coordinator of the Tuberculosis Programme in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kingsley Aleruchi made the plans public during a phone-in programme organised by Silverbird Communications in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
He said already no fewer than 250 tuberculosis centres have been embedded in the various primary healthcare facilities in the state to tackle the disease.
By establishing more centres in private hospitals, Aleruchi said it will improve healthcare delivery and reach out to those not fully covered.
The state TB coordinator stated that a lot of people were not aware they have TB until the disease becomes apparent, explaining that the disease, in its early stage, has similar signs as malaria but accompanied with cough and fever.
Aleruchi said the scheme to eradicate TB will save lots of lives, as according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), TB kills lots of people in Sub-Sahara Africa alongside HIV/AIDS.
He said no less than 20,000 persons have been found to have TB in the state.
Besides the TB centres, he stated that a dedicated line has been established as well to assist care providers and others at the grassroots to seek assistance from medical experts.
Also, a special tracking system, he said, was being set up to monitor those in the programme to ensure they strictly follow up with treatment and care.