The First Lady of Kebbi State , Zainab Idris, has inaugurated a modern Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Treatment Centre at Argungu General Hospital.
A statement from the office of the first lady yesterday notes that the newly upgraded facility is equipped to treat patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis using state-of-the-art technology, aiming to curb the spread of the disease and save lives. She expressed concern over the preventable deaths caused by curable diseases like tuberculosis.
“With the establishment of this centre, many lives that would have been lost can now be saved through effective treatment for drug-resistant TB,” she noted.
The First Lady who is an advocate of 'Stop TB' also highlighted the ongoing efforts to reduce stigma associated with tuberculosis, reassuring patients that the disease is curable.
“All the necessary modern facilities have been installed to meet the health needs of TB patients,” she confirmed.
Bello Tambuwal, a representative from the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program, pointed out that Kebbi State had long awaited such a facility, as similar centres already existed in the other 19 northern states.
He praised the initiative, noting that prior to the opening, over 100 children diagnosed with tuberculosis were treated and cured with free medication and meals, thanks to the First Lady’s dedication as a "Stop TB" advocate.
Tambuwal added that the new centre would focus on treating patients with severe tuberculosis caused by drug resistance.
Every year, over 245,000 Nigerians succumb to tuberculosis (TB), with approximately 590,000 new cases reported (of these, around 140,000 are also HIV-positive). In Nigeria, tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for more than 10% of all deaths.
