Medical experts believe there is no need for persons suffering from tuberculosis, otherwise known as TB, in Nigeria to worry. Unlike many other ailments in the country, they say TB is not only curable but treated free-of-charge in all public hospitals across the nation. Besides, patients could be treated at home if they so choose. All they need do is contact the head of TB control agency in the state where they live to place them under health officials who would help them with the treatment in their homes.
They could as well go to hospitals where they meet trained health officials to manage their cases, while also showing them the best of love possible. Anyone who coughs more than two weeks, according to the experts, could be suffering from TB. Nigeria lost 248,000 of her population to the disease in 2014, according to data made available by the experts at a capacity building programme organized for journalists on TB control by Royal Dutch Tuberculosis Foundation, KNCV, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Challenge TB, and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, NTLCP in Abuja recently. Such deaths, Country Director KNCV, Dr Mustapha Gidado, argued could have been prevented, if adequate awareness had been created on the disease by government and the deceased had presented themselves for testing and treatment on time. Failure of patients with active pulmonary TB disease to be treated or follow treatment procedure could make them infect between 10 and 20 persons every year, Gidado said. Like patients of killer diseases namely HIV/AIDS, cancer and hypertension, TB patients are afraid of stigma from the public.
They refuse to tell health officials of their condition. Even many of them do not know they have TB when they cough ceaselessly. They resort to selfmedication and infect as many others as possible with the disease, experts at the event argued. TB, which ranks alongside HIV as a leading cause of death worldwide, put Nigeria in 4th place among countries with highest incidence of the disease globally. Nigeria followed India, Indonesia and China, according to the 2014 data. There is interconnectivity between HIV and TB, Gidado stressed. According to him, there were 570,000 TB cases in Nigeria in 2014 (out of which 248,000 died) 100,000 persons with TB were diagnosed to have HIV that year in Nigeria. TB disease considerably shortens the survival period of people living with HIV; it is the leading cause of death among them which is why all TB patients and suspects should be tested for HIV, he explained further. To ensure TB sufferers get hitch-free testing and treatment, the partners have made available toll-free numbers to the public to enable them speak with persons who would guide them on where to get treatment and the type of treatment they want. The numbers are 0800-2255-282 FREE and 0800 call CTB. Speaking on the disease, National Coordinator, NTLCP, Dr Gabriel Akang said “tuberculosis is a communicable disease caused by germ Mycobacterium tuberculosis (commonly referred to as TB bacilli) TB germs usually affect the lungs (pulmonary TB) But, it can also affect other organs of the body (extra-pulmonary TB) Examples of body organs that can be affected in extra-pulmonary TB include lymph nodes, bones (especially the backbone) joints, skin, abdomen, brain, kidneys among others. “TB germs spread mainly through the air. The germs are released into the air when people who are sick with TB disease of the lungs that are not on adequate treatment cough, sneeze or spit. These tiny germs are not visible to the naked eye and can remain in the air for several hours. Persons who breathe in air containing these TB germs may become infected.
“However, not all persons infected with TB germs develop TB disease. When a person is infected with TB germs, the germs can remain in his/her body in an inactive state without causing sickness. This is called latent TB infection. The inactive TB germs do not spread to other persons. But, if these germs become active by multiplying and destroying body tissues, the person becomes sick and manifest with symptoms and signs of TB disease. “Persons with latent TB infection only develop TB disease when their immune system is weakened. The chances of the person developing TB disease are high. “Such weakened immune system can arise from other diseases that lower immune system like HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases.
“TB is diagnosed by a combination of symptoms, physical examination and/or investigations. Among others, the investigations include examination of samples (e.g sputum) under the microscope, using GeneXpert machines, x-ray of the relevant parts of the body and growing of TB germs in the laboratory,” he stated. Our correspondent learnt that a TB patient could be cured of TB disease by taking the appropriate medicine and dosage for the correct duration. The appropriate medicine involves a combination of drugs. The correct duration is not less than six months depending on the severity of the TB disease. Treatment could stretch to about 20 months; while patients take injection for the first eight months, daily. Thereafter, they proceed to taking oral drug. “When treated, TB patients will be cured of the disease; they cannot spread TB germs to others; and the burden of the disease will reduce in the country. TB is mainly prevented when TB patients observe basic infection control practices such as covering their nose and mouth with handkerchiefs when coughing or sneezing; when they avoid spitting indiscriminately and dispose sputa properly; wash their hands after coughing or sneezing; ensure TB patient are promptly diagnosed and put on appropriate treatment for the right duration,” Akang noted. A cured TB patient, Oluwafunke Dosunmu, a graduate of University of Ilorin and mother of one, shared her experience of the disease at the event. She pledged to commit the rest of her life to sensitizing people on the disease. She told National Mirror:
“I went through trying times while having TB…I started coughing for more than two weeks. “Immediately, I went through diagnosis and blood test, HIV test, sputum and saliva tests and chest x-ray. So, from there, I knew I had TB. It was a kind of surprise because I never expected such a disease. I was shocked how I got it. At that moment, I knew it was not to keep asking myself questions, but look for how to cure it. I got motivated. I had to just get over it. I told myself ‘death is not my portion. I still have a long way to go to enjoy my family and my marriage’. “I enrolled for the free treatment. But, I noticed that my weight was dropping drastically. I dropped from 66kg to 42kg. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t bathe myself. That was where my parents came in; and they had to help me out. They were very supportive at the time. They did their best to help me out of the sickness. I was isolated; my baby had to be taken away from me. The stigma was there. I never let it weigh me down. I knew it was just a challenge I had to face. And, I knew I would come out of it. “Prayer is working, but now it is the routine drug. You must treat yourself and treat yourself well, by adhering to the direction on how you take your drug. I was very concerned about my weight at the time, so I was taking enough fruits. I told myself I had to go out someday as I was doing. I had to go to church as I used to do. I couldn’t relate with people as I used to do. “Even my husband was not coming often; he had to leave me for a while. I took it upon myself to face that challenge. And, to God be the glory, after going through the drug for getting close to nine months (I was ok) It was three doses at a go, and I must not miss the drug. And, to God be the glory, I was eventually ok. On the 14th of December last year, I was told I was no more living with TB,” she added.
By: Marcus Fatunmole
National Mirror News
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