From Uchenna Ezeadigwe,
Awka
As the world celebrates the world Tuberculosis day, Anambra Tuberculosis Team, World Health Organization and non-governmental organizations have embarked on road show in Awka to sensitize people on dangers of tuberculosis and the need to protect oneself from the infection.
The awareness exercise which commenced at the Jerome Udorji State Secretariat Awka with the theme for this year’s celebration, “the clock is ticking, checkam” was part of programmes to mark World Tuberculosis Day. Paul Ezeoke reports that World Tuberculosis Day is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate it.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala while addressing the public called for collective efforts to end the challenge of tuberculosis and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals target set for the disease by the United Nations.
Okpala further alluded that the state is one of the twenty two high burden areas with regards to tuberculosis and recorded three thousand cases last year, adding that the state is working to decrease drug resistant tuberculosis across the state.
He expressed satisfaction that the partnership with various agencies is yielding the desired goals, even as he said that Anambra state has received many awards for its outstanding response to the fight against tuberculosis.
Also speaking, the Deputy Programme Manager TB, Leprosy and Burulli Ulcer Control Anambra State Mr. Joseph Ezeebunafor said the walk was to remind the people of the dangers of TB, mode of transmission and need to protect themselves.
Ezeebunafo however, called on the people to always access treatment in health facilities across the state, and made it clear that tuberculosis treatment is free.