25th January, 2018
Kaduna State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, is to embark on community outreach campaigns in rural areas, the Director, Dr Julius Gajere, has said.
Gajere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Kaduna on Thursday that the exercise was aimed at detecting new cases.
“We want to embark on community outreach campaigns by starting with two communities, Rigasa and Maraba Jos.
“They are hot areas and tuberculosis cases are mostly found in such areas.
“We intend to use health facilities there. We will conduct screenings; collect samples for test and those affected during or after the exercise will be placed on treatment,’’ he said.
Gajere added that addresses of residents would be collated during the exercise for easy contact.
“By collecting their addresses, we will get them easily and will not make referrals because the patients will not go.’’
According to him, the agency will improve its collaboration with private healthcare providers by expanding tuberculosis services to their facilities.
He said the government would train health workers offering HIV services on how to suspect and refer clients for tuberculosis detection and anti-retroviral treatment services.
“We have 271 centres for tuberculosis control programme in Kaduna but some people are yet to be detected and put under treatment,” Gajere said.
He called on residents whose coughs had lasted for two weeks or more to go for screening at the nearest hospitals for early diagnosis.
“I want to encourage people who have coughs for two weeks or more to come over to the hospital for screening so that we can roll out tuberculosis.’
Gajere also called on the media to increase awareness on the need for early diagnosis and detection of tuberculosis.
“I want to call on the media to assist us by creating more awareness and educating residents on tuberculosis and leprosy.
“We will liaise with them to air jingles and other information about tuberculosis control and leprosy’’