How sensitisation of rural communities can improve TB case detection, treatment

By Doosuur Iwambe

“If someone in your family has suffered from tuberculosis, then automatically, someone else from the family will have to suffer from TB”.

This was the submission of Mrs Obiabo, a 45-year-old petty trader in Nyanyan gwandara, a satellite town close to the Federal Capital Territory.

Mrs Obiabo who was fielding questions from the Daily Times on how much knowledge she has about TB, causes and prevention believes it is hereditary.

Another resident of Mpape, a suburb in the capital city who simply identified herself as ‘mama Becky’ believes that the practice of rearing animals like goats, where some people sleep in the same room with the goats may be the cause of TB.

“Living in the same room with animals like goats can bring the infection to humans”, she said.

On his part, Alhaji Musa Bello, a meat seller in Mpape market said that TB is a bad omen that can befall anyone.

“People say that TB is a curse, a bad omen that can affect anyone”.

Asked if he was aware that TB can be treated, he said, “Once you have it, you will suffer with it until you die. It cannot be treated”.

Just like Obiabo, Mama Becky and Bello, several other Nigerians especially those living in the rural communities have different perspective about TB.

While some believe, it can be treated once detected on time, many others believe that once infected with TB, it is a death sentence.

Community awareness of TB and delays in seeking health care remain important issues in Nigeria despite the extensive efforts of stakeholders over the years.

The recent available data estimated that TB case burden is more than 400,000 and the highest ever identified is 130,000.

The rise in number of TB cases was also attributed to the outbreak of COVID-19, as most communities in the rural areas were greatly and painfully neglected in prevention and care.

Most of the communities could not access functional hospital facilities and health workers to care for TB related cases.

Some rural areas, due to lack of awareness occasioned by non-impact of government policies, strongly regard TB patients as people on the sure pedestal of death, hence, they strongly stigmatize this category of persons.

In some cases, patients are denied family care and starved while some are given poisonous concoction for a faster “relief” of death.

Educating the population on the consequences of TB, the mode of transmission and informing them of the preventive measures, are all necessary to change the existing negative social norms and enable better behavior for a healthier and more disciplined society.

It was for this reason that concern stakeholders and partners in the nation’s health sector in a bid to increase awareness on TB took the sensitization campaign to some communities in the capital city.

The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, NTLCP in commemoration of the 2021 world TB day sensitise a community in Lugbe, a satellite town along the airport road.

The NTLCP and its partners said, the campaign was informed by the zeal and readiness of government to speed up effort to eradicate TB in Nigeria.

Dr Ayodele Awe, Chairman 2021 TB Day Committee who lectured the listening gathering on the signs and symptoms of TB said that no one need to die from TB.

Awe who noted that any cough that last for more than two weeks should be taken seriously by seeking prompt medical care urged the people of the community to make themselves available for the free screening and treatment of the disease.

“We have provided the equipment to check anyone that is coughing. The test is free of charge. You do not need to go to the hospital to check, we have brought the doctors to you”, he said.

On his part, the Royal Father Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi, the third, commended the federal government and partners over the consistent efforts to meet the need of the poor masses.

While calling for the collaborative efforts of all Nigerians to win the war against tuberculosis, he called on the government to establish treatment centres in the FCT in order to ease the difficulty encountered by patients with tuberculosis.

TB is a contagious infection that usually attacks the lungs and is spread by coming into prolonged close contact with someone who is infectious.

Today, most cases are cured using the internationally recommended strategy for TB control, known as DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course), a strategy that Nigeria follows.

A combination of health facility staff, family members and community volunteers are supposed to watch a patient taking their medication every day.

The theme for the 2021 celebration is “Clock is ticking to end tuberculosis in Nigeria”, with the slogan: “That cough fit be Tuberculosis not COVID, check am oh.”