Bukola Afeni
The National Coordinator African Coalition Of Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria, Ibrahim Umoru has stressed the need for community involvement in tackling Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
He urged the government, private sector and media to prioritize spreading information about TB in communities in the country.
Umoru stated this during the TB Affected Community and Civil Society Dialogue at the National TB Conference in Abuja.
He said Nigeria has demonstrated resilience, effort, and commitment in the face of challenges in combating Tuberculosis.
According to him, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while other countries’ TB programs stalled, Nigeria’s program thrived, exceeding its target.
“Nigeria has shown a lot to the world in terms of our resilience and commitment. We have brought innovative approach.
TB is a community issue, and we cannot keep quiet about it”.
Umoru emphasized the importance of community involvement in TB prevention and treatment.
He encouraged Journalists to intensify efforts to raise awareness on combating TB stigma.
The Deputy Project Director for Tuberculosis at Break Throughaction Nigeria, Dr Bolatito Ayenigba highlighted that Journalists play a crucial role in reducing stigmatization among people living with TB.
Ayenigba said stigmatization of people with TB is indeed a significant challenge in Nigeria.
“TB is curable and treatable, unlike hypertension and diabetes, which requires lifelong medication.
“Stigmatization of people with TB is still very high in Nigeria.We need to address the issue of stigma, and the media is very important in conveying the right information.”he said.
According to the deputy director, the stigma associated with TB is not only external but also internal.
He said some people with TB stigmatize themselves, which can be detrimental to their mental health and overall well-being.
