Rivers To Expand TB Care Service Points

As part of efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in the state, the Rivers State Government says it will increase TB treatment service points to 1200 across the state.
Making this known during events marking the 2019 World Tuberculosis Day (WTD) in Port Harcourt last Sunday, the Rivers State Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike, send it will be an improvement from the previous 384 facilities.
“Our efforts to eliminate TB in the state have informed our establishment of TB treatment services in 384 facilities, 12 highly specialised diagnostic centres and 90 microscopy centres to improve access and coverage. Plans are on the way to expand these services to 1200 service points across the state”, the governor stated.
The governor, who was represented by the Commission for Health, Prof Princewill Chike said currently, free chest x-ray services are provided at the TB treatment centres to aid childhood TB diagnosis.
Also, he continued, treatment of TB is free at all the supported sites in the state and drugs are given under direct supervision to ensure compliance and cure.
In his welcome address at the occasion, chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional rulers, who was also the chief host His Majesty, King Dr Dandison Douglas Jaja of all stakeholders, particularly the traditional rulers in order to eliminate TB in state.
According to him, ensuring that all TB patients are placed on treatment is a burden we must all share if we are to realise the goal of ending TB by the year 2030.
Meanwhile, he commended the efforts of the state government to revitalise the health sector in order to eliminate the disease, saying that “there is therefore the need to intensify active TB case finding in order to eliminate TB as a disease of public health burden.
With the free diagnosis and treatment services across the state, I encouraged all our people to present themselves at the health facilities of they have symptoms such as cough of two weeks or more, with associated weight loss and night sweating for the needed care”, he said.
Highlights of the occasion, which took place at the conference hall of the Rivers State Council of traditional rulers secretariat, was presentation of awards to international partners and community health workers.
The 2019 WTD theme is “It’s Time: Rivers People culturally united to end TB”.

Sogbeba Dokubo