Nigeria: The Rising Tuberculosis Cases in Nigeria

opinion

The formal release of the first National TB prevalence survey report in Nigeria has thrown up a lot of issues concerning the nation's health delivery system. The event was also used to formally lunch the National strategic plan for TB control (2015-2020). At the occasion, the World Health Organization's (WHO) country representative to Nigeria, Rui Gama Vaz disclosed some of the regrettable facts as it concerns TB in Nigeria. According to the prevalence survey report, (PSR) "Nigeria is now the 3rd highest TB burden country in the world and the first in Africa region". The WHO representative also said that the survey confirmed a worrisome situation with regard to Multi-Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Nigeria is now the 13th highest MDR-TB burden country globally and 2nd highest in the Africa region".

It will be recalled that WHO launched a six-point strategy to dramatically reduce TB burden in the world by 2015 (2006- 2015). This strategy has been reported to have saved 37 million lives globally and some countries have recorded up to 50% reduction in the prevalence burden of TB. Conversely, Nigeria is recording increasing prevalence burden. Many are flabbergasted, while others were vindicated. According to WHO, "TB is an infectious bacterial disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis which most commonly affects the lungs... ., It is transmitted from person to person through air droplets". However, the Merck veterinary manual, (pg. 549, 9th ed., 2005) added that "... ... ..TB affects practically all species of vertebrates and before control measure were adopted in animals, was a major disease of humans and animals. It further stated that Bovine TB is still a significant zoonosis in many parts of the world". The main reservoirs of TB infections are humans and cattle. In most developing countries where the 3 principal approaches to the control of TB in animals, which include test and slaughter, test and segregation and chemotherapy are used, the prevalence of TB in both humans and animals have significantly reduced.

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