Treatment Of Tuberculosis Offered Free
Treatment Of Tuberculosis Offered Free: On World Tuberculosis Day 24th March, World Health Organization (WHO), United States for International Development (USAID), KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) in collaboration are offering free tuberculosis treatment and screening for the people of Nigeria. Through this offer more than 1000 residents will benefit.
Early detection and treatment of disease is part of their community sensitization program. WHO Tuberculosis directors shared with media about the low level of awareness about Tuberculosis symptoms and Treatment among the people and the need for screening when someone faces prolong cough.
It is reported that over 400,000 persons are at risk of contracting tuberculosis with an estimated 50,000 deaths but less than 100,000 persons present themselves for TB screening annually in Nigeria. Wellness on Wheels (WoW) program will help in discovery of the disease so that treatment can be started to avoid further spread of the disease.
Wow program will also organize free medical outreach through mobile diagnostic Truck which will contain X-ray machine and geneXpert machine.
Some of the symptoms of tuberculosis include, continued cough lasting for more than 2 weeks, loss of appetite, night sweating, weight loss, chest pain and difficulty in breathing. Enlargement of lymph nodes is also considered as a fatal symptom of this disease. Tuberculosis is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called “Mycobacteria tuberculosis” infecting the lungs and might poison other parts of the body, including the kidneys, bones and lymph nodes.
The good news is that tuberculosis is treatable. Early treatment is important to stop the spread of the disease. Failure of treatment is observed when the presence of TB mucus continues despite taking them medicines. In Nigeria, treatment for TB is free across all level of healthcare institutions. It is instructed by the directors of WHO & USAID that residents should come forward for screening and also avail themselves of the free treatment on offer.