Borno State Commissioner of Health, Prof Baba Gana, has tagged Tuberculosis (TB) as a ticking bomb that could infect 50,000 people in the 27 local councils.
According to him, TB is associated with poverty, Boko Haram terrorism and other underlying conditions, including diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
Gana gave the warning, yesterday, in Maiduguri, to mark the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day.
TB has reportedly claimed 10.6 million lives globally.
He said though the state recorded 16,000 cases of TB last year, there were still 10,000 people infected with the disease, which could be “diagnosed and treated”.
This year’s World Tuberculosis Day, with the theme ‘Yes, we can end TB’ was to raise more awareness with the prevention of stigmatising the disease for contact tracing.
On TB being a ticking bomb, the commissioner warned: “Out of the 10,000 people infected with the disease, each of them could also infect five other people in the various communities,” noting that contact tracing and the availing of people for treatment could end TB in the state.
“All TB patients in the state are traced, diagnosed and treated free of charge.”
Borno TB Programme Manager, Dr Goni Imam, said 2024 is the year in which the disease can be eradicated from the state.
He noted that awareness on TB and contact tracing for diagnosis and treatment could also reduce cases to zero level.
WHO State Coordinator, Dr Salisu Ibrahim, represented by Dr Aisha Gubio, corroborated the commissioner’s statement that TB is associated with poverty, Boko Haram insurgency and underlying conditions.
While thanking Governor Babagana Zulum for allocating 15 per cent of the state’s budget to the health sector, she said: “We’ll continue to provide you with technical support to end TB that has claimed lives with loss of man-hours.”
