World TB Day: Kano State Govt. cautions against use of traditional medicine

Kano State Government has cautioned against the use of traditional medicine and concoctions for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje gave the warning at the launch of an outreach on TB disease to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day in Kano on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Tuberculosis Day is annually celebrated on March 24 around the globe to create awareness about the devastating health and economic impact of tuberculosis.

It also aims to accelerate efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

The theme for the 2021 celebration is “Clock is ticking to end tuberculosis in Nigeria”, with the slogan: “That cough fit be Tuberculosis not COVID, check am oh.”

Ganduje, who restated the commitment of the state government to end preventable deaths arising from TB, gave stern warning against use of traditional medicine and concoctions for the treatment of the disease.

He said the government had concluded plans to operate free screening, test and treatment of tuberculosis in the state.

He urged residents to go for screening if they experience cough for two weeks or more.

He said the state government had provided a wellness on wheels programme called “Wow Truck” to conduct TB screening and administer drugs free of charge to residents.

The governor, who commended the efforts of donor agencies in fighting TB and other diseases in the state, noted that the government allocated 17 per cent of the total state budget to the health sector.

Commissioner for Health, Aminu Tsanyawa, said the state was the most populous state in Nigeria and the 5th highest TB burden state in the country.

Tsanyawa stated that the state as at 2019, had a TB burden of 32,376, out which, 11,854 were detected and notified.

He restated the ministry’s commitment to partner donor agencies to end tuberculosis in the state.

Dr Bethrand Odume, the Executive Director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, said the group was committed to tracing TB cases in both the public and private facilities, as well as the informal health sector and hard to reach communities.

He explained that the KNCV Nigeria is a leading partner, working with the Kano State TB programme and currently implementing the USAID-funded TB LON project.

He explained that TB LON is a five-year project to support comprehensive TB treatment and care in 14 states in Nigeria.