Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Amidst the ongoing efforts to combat tuberculosis in Nigeria, medical experts have expressed deep concern over the persistently low levels of TB diagnosis among children.
They lamented that despite concerted efforts to enhance TB detection and treatment nationwide, the diagnosis rate among children is far from reaching the desired levels set by healthcare authorities.
The World Health Organisation said TB is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS.
According to WHO, in 2022, Africa had around one-third (320,000 children) of all TB cases among children between 0 and 15 years of age worldwide with over 25 per cent of TB deaths occurring in the African Region.
Speaking at a day-long review meeting for media professionals in Oyo State, organised by USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, the Programme Manager, Oyo State TB and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr Johnson Babalola, said TB prevention in children is still a major challenge in Nigeria and urged the support of the media to increase case detection of the infection in the country.
He noted that tuberculosis case detection in children is far below the expected 15 per cent of the total TB cases.
He stated that some children with TB are still missed because children, unlike adults, will not complain of coughs and other symptoms of TB, and a high index of suspicion of TB is required for the child to be tested for TB.
He added, “For all cases, we expected that 15 per cent of TB cases detected should be children. But up until now, it has never been so. The highest we have got in Oyo State is 7 per cent. That means that we are missing children that have TB.”
Babalola said detection of TB is fraught with challenges because children do not complain like adults and when they cough, they swallow their sputum and do not know how to spit it out.
He declared that TB is still a major problem all over the world and that about a third of the world population is infected with the TB germ, adding that such individuals could later develop TB disease when their immunity is lowered.
“So, we want the media to propagate what individuals can do to prevent having TB disease and how we can reduce the spread of TB in the community through cough etiquette, hand washing, and support for individuals with the disease to ensure they are treated,” he stressed.
On her part, an Oyo State Epidemiologist, Dr Iyabo Kareem, urged the media to support increased sensitisation on signs and symptoms as well as on the prevention of infectious diseases like measles, M-pox, Lassa fever, and polio in the community.
According to her, recent cases of measles recorded in some parts of the state could have been prevented if parents ensured that their children were vaccinated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the State Coordinator USAID-BAN, Mrs Toyin Afanchang, said the agency wants the consolidation of the gains and achievements that the project made on media parley with the Oyo State Ministry of Health in increasing health enlightenment of the public on malaria, tuberculosis, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and other diseases of public health importance.
“USAID BA-N is not leaving but will continue to provide support and generate ideas for behavioural change communication,” she assured.
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