The Bauchi State Government is focused on increasing support, managing resources well, and working together with different groups to fight Tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
On Friday, Aminu Hamayyo, who works as the State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination, spoke during a visit by a local group called Langa Women Development Initiative. He said the government is serious about planning and taking action to reduce TB.
Newslodge reports that this visit was about making sure there is enough money to fight TB quickly and properly.
Hamayyo is concerned because TB control hasn’t been given as much attention as other health problems in the state. He promised to give more money for health services, focusing on TB specifically.
He said, “This money is very important to help diagnose, treat, and prevent TB, and to train the workers.”
He added, “The government will make sure there is money for TB and will release the funds on time, which is very important for fighting TB effectively.”
The Commissioner also promised to continue working with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other groups to improve TB care, ensure enough funding, and use resources well.
Dr. Adamu Sambo, who is the State Commissioner for Health, said his department will make sure TB medicines and testing tools are always available and solve problems in distant areas.
Dr. Sambo also promised to improve teamwork between the state government and CSOs to make TB programs work smoothly.
Earlier, Amb. Grace Maikudi, the leader of Langa Women Development Initiative, said their visit was to make sure there is specific money for TB activities to help plan and carry out these activities better.
She explained, “Delays in funding stop TB activities from being done on time, causing shortages of TB medicines and services.”
Dr. Yakubu Gida, who leads the TB program at the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Leprosy (BACATMA), provided some numbers. He said the TB rate nationwide is 330 per 100,000 people, with a rate of 219 new cases per 100,000 people. With an estimated population of 7,500,896 in 2023, Bauchi might have about 16,427 TB cases.
However, Dr. Gida shared that by the end of 2023, only 9,297 TB cases were reported, which means 56% of cases are noticed, and 44% of cases, about 7,130, are missed. These “Missing TB Cases” can spread the disease further.
He added details about testing centers: Bauchi state has 719 Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) centers (out of 799 needed), 127 microscopy centers (out of 340 needed), 16 GeneXpert machines (one for each area), 3 Truenat machines, and 8 TB Lamp machines.