Nigeria Commemorates World TB Day 2003

Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Monday, 24^th March 2003, with a number of activities. At the national level, people took part in a 5-kilometere walk in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to raise public awareness on TB and its control measures. The walk ended in a rally, which was addressed by a number of Stop TB Partners. Members of the Planning Committee also participated in television discussion programmes.

The celebration in Nigeria was unique, in that it was combined with the observance of World Leprosy Day. At the national level, the country has achieved the leprosy elimination target of less than one case in 10,000 people, even though there are pockets of endemicity in some Local Government Areas (LGAs).

In his address at the rally, the Minister of Health, Professor Alphonsus Nwosu appealed to States and Local Governments in Nigeria to join the Federal Government to promote the use of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) to stop the spread of TB in the country. The theme for this year’s Day is "People living with TB" with the slogan, "DOTS cured me . . . it will cure you too".

In the address read by Dr. Shehu Sule, Director, Health Planning and Research in the Ministry, Professor Nwosu implored the states and LGAs to contribute to the provision of laboratory equipment and reagents, training of health staff as well as supervision and monitoring of activities, so as to ensure sustainability of TB control activities.

More than 200,000 new cases of TB occur in Nigeria annually with about 30,000 deaths. The age group of 15 – 64 years is mainly affected. TB is not only a clinical problem but also an economic, social and cultural issue.

The Minister announced that the Government was committed to the Declaration of the Stop TB Partners Forum held in Washington. To buttress this, he said all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory are now implementing DOTS, while treatment success rate has improved from 60% in 1994 to 77% in 2002.

Professor Nwosu who noted that one of the basic elements in DOTS is the availability of good quality anti-TB drugs, added that Government had procured good quality drugs and also received some through the Global Drug Facility. He assured that the drugs would be administered to TB patients free of charge.

Dr. Yemisi Sofola, National Coordinator of the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme in her address, said that TB is a major public health problem in Nigeria, but regretted that "we are yet to take full advantage of the DOTS strategy to cure our TB patients". She therefore called on government and partners to ensure that DOTS is available and accessible to all patients in the country.

Alluding to the close association between TB and HIV, Dr. Sofola said an average of 19% of TB patients are also infected with HIV, and that TB is the leading cause of death among people who are HIV-positive. She then appealed for political support, public awareness and the energy of health care workers and community members in fighting TB, for according to her, "as long as we all breathe air, we are all at risk and must get involved".

The message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Ebrahim Samba was read on the occasion by Dr. Ayodele Awe, National Professional Officer/Tuberculosis in WHO Nigeria. Dr. Samba said WHO had the strategy, plans and resources to treat and cure TB. He requested community members to actively ensure that people who suffer from TB do come forward, are tested and treated accordingly.

The rally also featured testimonies by cured TB and leprosy patients as well as a drama sketch depicting that TB is curable and that DOTS treatment is free. Arts and crafts produced by cured leprosy patients were also on display.

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