Tina Amanda
Rivers state ministry of health says in its bid to fight tuberculosis, the dreaded killer disease, it has established over 384 tuberculosis treatment services centres and 12 specialized diagnostic centres across the state.
Commissioner of health, Professor Princewill Chike, stated this during the commemoration of the 2019 world tuberculosis Day at the Rivers state council of traditional rulers secretariat, Portharcourt, With the theme: ‘’its time Rivers people culturally Unite to end TB”
According to him, tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death around the world and particularly in Nigeria with the highest burden of TB, adding that plans are ongoing under the administration of governor Nyesom Wike to expand the tuberculosis services to 1200 points across the state.
He urged the traditional rulers to help propagate the campaign of end tuberculosis and the importance of accessing health care facilities to their various communities, adding that tuberculosis treatment and diagnoses are free.
“We want the enormous support of our traditional rulers to seeing a TB free state. This has necessitated our choice of commemorating this day with the Rivers state council of traditional rulers as a strategy of sustaining their royal blessing and support to end this deadly disease.
“I appeal to all persons having a cough for two weeks or more with associated weight loss and night sweating to avail themselves the opportunity of our free diagnostic and treatment services, avoid the purchase of TB medication over the counter, they are free at all the state support facilities”
On his part, Chairman Rivers state council of traditional rulers, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, thanked the state government for its effort in combating tuberculosis disease and for making the free treatment accessible to everyone most especially the health facilities in the rural communities.
He also assured the ministry of health that the council of traditional rulers will carry on the campaign message of end TB in the state to their people in various communities, while urging on the people to make good use of the free TB diagnose and treatment to get tested in any health facility nearest to them to end the disease in the state.
