Tuberculosis: Ondo Govt tasks individuals on funding to save lives
The Ondo State Government has tasked individuals in the state to fund fight against tuberculosis in order to save lives.
The Ondo State Manager for Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control, Dr Oluwafemi Aina, stated this on Thursday at the 2022 Tuberculosis Day Symposium with theme “Invest to End TB, Save Lives” in Akure.
Aina urged individuals to assist the government and partners financially in fighting the disease especially in the face of leaning resources, saying all and sundry must rise to augment the government and international partners to save lives.
According to Aina, progress in reducing the burden of tuberculosis disease requires adequate funding sustained over the years.
“Regrettably, international donors spending continue to dominate the funding, while domestic funding has been grossly insufficient and devoid of necessary vigor.
“No doubt, the catastrophic cost on patients in a low-income country like ours is damn too scary without support from government and supporting partners.
“Much is needed now, more than ever before as the growing financial fatigue from international donors are becoming obvious.
“Hence, a clarion call to all indigenous organisations, corporate organisations, philanthropists, professional bodies and top government functionaries to invest in the battle against TB and SAVE LIVES,” Aina said.
He explained that it had been reliably and scientifically proven that infected TB patients not subjected to proper case management and treatment could infect an average of 10 to 15 persons annually.
Aina said that Ondo State, a federating unit in the country, was also not isolated from menace and public health burden of tuberculosis.
“In 2021, Ondo state with an estimated population of 4,671,700, is estimated to have a TB burden of 10,231 from the incident rate of 219 in 100,000 population.
“Remarkably and notably in the fight against TB, The state notified a total of 2,537 in the year 2021 which represents the highest thus far in the history of the tuberculosis programme.
“This witnessed a significant increment of 33.5 per cent in comparison to the year 2020,” he said.
According to him, the treatment success rate for patients subjected to treatment for the year 2021 was 86.5 per cent, a testament to the credibility and quality of service offered.
“The battle for tuberculosis is now multi sectoral, with the engagement of both public and private facilities. A total of 117 private facilities have been trained from 2019 till date on TB diagnosis and treatment.
“This initiative has changed the narrative of private facilities contribution in the state from 3 per cent in 2018 to 51 per cent in 2021.
“The current existing structure in the state has often shown that with necessary support, the control of TB can be effective and impressive.
“The leadership at the Ministry of Health, Ondo state, is readily available to surmount opposing barriers in control of TB,” he stated.
