By Iheanyi Enwerem
As part of activities lined up for the protection of children against Tuberculosis, the Imo State government through the Ministry of Health and Social Services has flagoff 2024 National Childhood TB Testing Week, this to ensure that children are tested and screened against the disease.
The Commissioner for Health and Social Services, Hon. Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha, who kickstarted the event on Friday at the Conference room of the Ministry, said the county in the last five(5) years has recorded steady increase in TB case finding with no proportionate increase in children, stressing that childhood TB is a good indication of ongoing TB transmission in the community.
He continued, that to ensure that children are reached, screened and tested for TB, the National TB program came up with innovation to carry out a national childhood TB testing week aimed at r3eaching out to children wherever they might be found, either at Nutrition clinics, HIV clinic, Schools, Orphanage Homes, Pupil in informal schools, amongst other places.
Prosper-Ohayagha hinted that Imo state is currently leading in States in the federation to mark activities that reduces infants and maternal mortalities, adding that Tuberculosis is no exception to the achievements of the 3R shared prosperity administration of the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma. He commended the World Health Organizations, W.H.O, and other partners for their support in the fight against TB, “ As a government, we will continue to support the activities of TB program to sustain the progress made and ensure that we end TB.
Earlier in an address presented on behalf of the W.H.O State Coordinator represented by Pharm. Angela Eziegbuna, she stated that in 2022,10.6 million people fell ill with TB worldwide, of which 5.6 million were men, 3.5 million were women, and 1.3 million were children, adding that the organization will continue to support TB program in the State especially in capacity building of Human Waking System,HWs, and TB surveillance needed for early detention and intervention.
The WHO representative commended the Imo Health Commissioner for his support to the State TB program, which she said has ensured stability and sustainability of past successes.