By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi
Free TB test is to be conducted in all the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi State while the official launching is scheduled for Maiyama local government this week.
The Wife of the Governor who is the Stop TB Champion of the State, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, announced this at a news briefing in Birnin Kebbi this Monday.
She explained that the free test and treatment falls under the National Tuberculosis (TB) Testing Week for Children.
“Tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable and curable disease that mostly affects the lungs and is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A person needs to inhale only a germ to become infected”, she explained.
Hajiya Nasare said activities lined up for the week are aimed at enhancing childhood TB detection and treatment through innovative provision of integrated services.
“There will be free TB testing for all children who have been coughing for more than two weeks, and a concurrent free HIV testing for all presumptive cases seen in all the testing centres throughout the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, and appropriate linkage for continuing treatment and support for positive cases detected “, the stop TB Champion announced.
The Governor’s wife said in addition, there would be intensive mobilisation and TB awareness campaign among community and health practitioners including sensitisation among the populace with high burden of TB in the state.
She commended the WHO, other implementing partners, Kebbi State Ministry of Health and the State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme for their support and cooperation towards achieving success for the exercise.
“In my capacity as Stop the TB Champion of Kebbi State, I pledge my commitment and remain dedicated to this cause, ‘as every child deserves a healthy start to life’,” Hajiya Nasare declared.
She urged traditional rulers, mothers, caregivers and all communities to participate actively in the programme and avail themselves of the free testing opportunity for the benefit of children.
Personalities at the news briefing include the commissioner for Health, comrade Yunusa Musa Ismail, the permanent Secretary, Dr. Shehu Nuhu Koko and the programme Manager, Leprosy and TB control, Shehu Auta Gele among others.
