Over 7,000 infected with tuberculosis

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, has said 7,345 residents were infected with the tuberculosis disease in the year 2023.

Gwamna disclosed this in Lafia, the state capital, during a media briefing to commemorate the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day tagged: “Yes, we can end TB.”

“Nasarawa State detected 7,345 TB cases in the year 2023; 21 per cent of whom are co-infected with HIV. This number is quite higher than that of the previous year 2022, which was 5,445 with 18 per cent co-infection with HIV,” he said. 

He explained that the cases were detected across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, Dr Damina John, expressed worry that if drastic steps were not taken to avert the escalation of the disease, it could pose a serious threat to many residents of the state.

“This shows that TB is still prevalent in the state. There is a need therefore, to intensify our efforts in the fight against this menace.”

He gave the breakdown as Awe LGA – 179; Obi LGA – 350; Wamba LGA – 178; Nasarawa Eggon LGA – 682; Nassarawa LGA – 1,846; Toto LGA – 143, among others.

He, however, maintained that the treatment success rate of TB in the state was currently at 89 per cent, noting that the state was yet to meet the target of 95 per cent stipulated by the National TB Control Programme, hence much work still needs to be done.