Rivers Get 17 High Tech Machines To Screen TB

As the onslaught against Tuberculosis (TB) intensifies in the state, about 17 high tech machines have been acquired by the state government to boost free screening for the airborne disease.
The revelation was made at the World TB Day celebration held at Isiokpo headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government, as Chairman of the council, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike received award as TB Champion in the state.
Speaking on ‘’ The Journey of TB in Rivers State”, Tonye Adoki related that in 2022 about 20,000 were screened and that between 2019 to 2021 about 40,000 were screened.
With the rising screening across the state, Adoki submitted that the disease is on the ebb, while warning that children too are vulnerable to TB and sometimes difficult to detect.
Adoki noted that, “we need to improve quality of care, we have to increase TB medication.”
On his part representative of World Health Organsation(WHO), Dr. Mike Jose disclosed that since 2000 about 74 persons have been treated of TB in Nigeria, as he decried that about 4,000 die of TB daily.
Dr. Jose however expressed confidence for the new gene expert machine now available at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital(RSUTH), TB screening has now become easy, and that free testing and treatment are available at the grassroots.
He challenged local councils to support in the fight against the disease at the grassroots, since that will make it more effective to eradicate the disease.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area, Dr. Nwanosike has announced that the council will acquire gene testing machine for TB.
Speaking while receiving award as Champion Against TB by the State Ministry of Health and supporting organisations, Nwanosike assured that his administration will do all in its powers to ensure TB is reduced in the area.
Part of the measures put in place by the council according to the council chairman is to boost morale of health staff, and renovation of moribund health facilities which will serve as platforms in the testing and treatment of the disease.