By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa and Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt
The Kaduna State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Programme said that it has recorded 4,506 TB cases in the state.
The State Programme Manager Dr Sadiq Idris revealed this to reporters in Kaduna yesterday.
“This represents a 114 per cent increase when compared to Q1 last year’s TB case findings,” he said.
He said the programme has expanded its services in the state to 976 treatment centres and all patients have been placed on free treatment.
“These centres cover all the 31 general hospitals, 672 primary health centres, 222 private health facilities, 48 faith-based facilities and three tertiary centres (68 per cent facility coverage) in the state.
“The state government has also procured five mobile diagnostic trucks equipped with digital X-ray machines and 10 colour gene Xpert machines for the integrated diagnosis of tuberculosis, COVID-19 and various other diseases in remote communities across the state.
“This will increase tuberculosis case findings in the state,” Idris said.
He added that the programme planned to intensify its tuberculosis case finding activities through community active search, increased access to services through dots expansion, intensified out-patient door screening and tuberculosis patient contact investigation.
Idris said it would also intensify its private sector engagement and increase pediatric diagnosis through the engagement of nutrition clinics, chest X-rays and stool testing for tuberculosis.
“The support of the general public is necessary to enable us to identify all the tuberculosis cases in communities and move towards its elimination.
“Any cough that lasts for two weeks or more could be tuberculosis; diagnosis and treatment are free and are widely available across the state.
“Tuberculosis is treatable and curable,” he said.
Also, the Kaduna State Fire Service said it recorded eight deaths from 118 fire outbreaks across the state between March and April this year.
The Director of the service Mr Paul Aboi stated this in a chat with reporters in Kaduna yesterday.
According to him, nine people sustained various degrees of injuries in the incidents.
He said five people were rescued while properties worth N4.1 billion were saved from being destroyed by fire.
Aboi said the service, within the period under review, received reports of fire outbreaks in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan respectively.
He said the fire service was doing its best to reduce the incidences of fire outbreaks in the state through sensitisation of residents to fire safety measures.
“Property worth N4 billion were saved from destruction within the period while property worth N1.4 billion were destroyed,” he said.
Aboi blamed the fire incidents on negligence and improper installation of electrical appliances, saying that residents should be careful when handling electrical appliances.
The director commended hospitals across the state for their prompt attendance to the injured.