The Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS) has urged the Governments at all levels not to overlook the fight against Tuberculosis in Nigeria amidst corona virus pandemic ravaging the globe.
The President of NTS. Prof. Prince Ele who stated this in a press statement marking the World Tuberculosis Day with the theme ”It’s time,” Yes, it is time to have a #TBFreeNigeria, #EndTB,” called for a holistic action plan against Tuberculosis as well as corona virus.
He said the urgency conveyed in the theme of this year’s edition was intended to put pressure on global leaders to stop TB as a public health problem by increasing access to preventive measures, effective treatment and promoting end to stigmatization.
According to him, “The Nigerian Thoracic Society is not unmindful of the current Covid-19 pandemic. While we encourage government to expand the scope of preparedness for possible upsurge in COVID-19 in Nigeria, we make haste to advise that it should NEVER relent in the fight against TB which remains the number 1 infectious killer disease.”
Prof. Ele said the 2020 edition of the world TB day was devoid of the usual fanfare and public displays in compliance with social distancing and avoidance of public gathering order.
He also lamented that while the upsurge in the TB cases are reported on a daily basis, the treatment coverage only hovers around 24 percent in Nigeria, noting that “the estimated cases of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis is 21,000”.
