Programme Manager, Oyo State TB and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Johnson Babalola, has said that tuberculosis (TB) prevention in children is still a major challenge in Nigeria and urged the support of the media to increase case detection of the infection in the country.
Dr Babalola, who spoke at a day-long review meeting for media professionals in Oyo State by USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, said tuberculosis case detection in children is far below the expected 15 percent of the total TB cases.
He declared that some children with TB are still missed because children, unlike adults, will not complain of coughs and other symptoms of TB, and a high index of suspicion of TB is required for the child to be tested for TB.
According to him, “for all cases, we expected that 15 percent of TB cases detected should be children. But up until now, it has never been so. The highest we have got in Oyo State is 7 percent. That means that we are missing children that have TB.”
Dr Babalola said detection of TB is fraught with challenges because children don’t complain like adults; when they cough, they swallow their sputum, and they don’t know how to spit.
He declared that TB is still a major problem all over the world and that about a third of the world population is infected with the TB germ, adding that such individuals could later develop TB disease when their immunity is lowered.
“So, we want the media to propagate what individuals can do to prevent having TB disease and how we can reduce the spread of TB in the community through cough etiquette, hand washing, and support for individuals with the disease to ensure they are treated.”
In her submission, Dr. Iyabo Kareem, the Oyo State Epidemiologist, urged the media to support increased sensitization on signs and symptoms as well as the prevention of infectious diseases like measles, M-pox, Lassa fever, and polio in the community.
According to her, recent cases of measles recorded in some parts of the state could have been prevented if parents ensured that their children were vaccinated.
State Coordinator USAID-BAN, Mrs Toyin Afanchang, said in her welcome address that the agency wants the consolidation of the gains and achievements that the project made on media parley with the Oyo State Ministry of Health in increasing health enlightenment of the public on malaria, tuberculosis, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and other diseases of public health importance.”
“USAID BA-N is not leaving but will continue to provide support and generate ideas for behavioural change communication,” she added.
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