The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, has lamented the high level of death caused by tuberculosis in Ogun State.
Senior programme officer of IHVN, Florinda Olawusi, disclosed this in Abeokuta, the State capital while speaking with newsmen, at the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day.
The institute pointed out that hat over 300 patients out of over 6,000 cases recorded in Ogun State in 2023 died of tuberculosis.
The programme officer stressed that there was a more than 100% rise from the 2019 data gathered by the institute.
She added that data from the IHVN and USAID TB-LON 3 project for Ogun State, 3000 cases were recorded in 2019.
Olawusi stated that 95% of the patients were already placed on treatment.
“Since the inception of the TB Long 3 project in Ogun State which started in 2019, Ogun State was diagnosing a little over 3,000 cases annually but presently from 2019 till now for example last year in 12 months they were able to diagnose over 6,000 cases which is a huge increment. It is over a 100% increase in the number of cases diagnosed.
“The treatment lasts for six months. So, what that means is that after six months, once the duration of the treatment is complete the patient leaves the program. As of last year, we were able to identify 6,000 cases and 95% of them were placed on treatment,” she said.
On the number of deaths, she said “Yes, there have been some TB-related deaths in the past year, a little over 300 patients died from TB-related causes last year in Ogun State.”
The state programme manager for TB and Leprosy Control, Olusola Taiwo, also said one of the factors causing the surge of tuberculosis is staying in overcrowded environments.
He then enjoined residents to “stay where there is good ventilation and try to ensure good coughing etiquette to prevent the spread of TB germs.
