12th May, 2016
Dr Gidado Mustapha, the Country Director, Challenge TB/KNCV, made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, as of 2015, based on the global WHO TB report, Nigeria had over 570, 000 patients living with TB out of which about 90,340 are on treatment.
He said the 90,340 represented less than 15 percent of the estimated burden of TB in Nigeria.
He added that the lack of awareness of the disease was one of the major reason for the slow progress made to eradicate it in the country.
He said that based on the knowledge, attitude and practice survey, less than 15 per cent of Nigeria’s population knew about TB and its service delivery points .
“Even among the health care workers, the correct knowledge on how to diagnose and manage is less than 50 per cent.
Mustapha said one of the strategies of government for the management of the disease was the united approach by government at all levels.
He said that as part of activities to draw more attention to the disease, a national conference was being organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, slated to hold between May 17 and May 18 in Abuja.
“It is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Specialists would be invited to enlighten participants on current issues concerning tuberculosis, its treatment and cure,” he added.