The Health Commissioner of the State of Oyo, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has said that in 2024, the State recorded 14,930 cases of tuberculosis, including 738 individuals who had a coinfection of tuberculosis and HIV.
Dr. Ajetunmobi, who spoke on the official flag of commemoration and the launch of World Day of World Day of 2025 of a community dissemination test campaign for TB throughout the state of Oyo in the Council of the Local Government of Northern Ibadan, said that registered TB cases underline the persistent load of the disease in the state.
She declared that in 2024, 641,414 individuals were examined clinically for TB in the state of Oyo. Of this number, 200,935 were evaluated, which led to the diagnosis and treatment of 14,930 cases, including 73 people who have HIV and TB.
Ajetunmbi, who declared that Nigeria occupies the sixth place among the 30 high -loading countries in the world and first in Africa, with the state of Oyo in 13th place among the high -load states of TB in the country, he said that these statistics highlight the need for sustained interventions to detect, treat and avoid the propagation of TB in Nigeria.
She, however, declared that there is a need for a collective determination and an urgent need for an intensified action at all levels (government, community and individual) to stop the propagation of TB in our communities.
Dr. Ajetunmbi also announced the purchase of mobile X -ray machines to ensure that people can do the TB test on their doors for free to increase access to the detection and care of TB in the state of Oyo.
According to her, “we have about six of those machines, and we hope more. They have been distributed in the 33 LGA in the state of Oyo. LGA combine so that they can have access to it.
“These X -ray machines are portable, so they can take any LGA where necessary. You do not have to get to the hospital to have a chest radiography; it can be taken to the doors of people, and it is free. It is basically for the community; this will increase the TB detection rate at the community level.”
The president of the Hospitals Management Board of the State of Oyo, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, said it is possible to eradicate tuberculosis when there is commitment, investment and provision of TB services and urged that this focuses when the state of Oyo joins others worldwide to create awareness in TB.
In a comment, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Philips Zonto, said that the topic of World TB Day reflects the urgency and commitment and hope that is needed to accelerate progress towards the elimination of TB.
He added that the dedication of health workers, political leaders and communities is key to guaranteeing early diagnosis, effective treatment and continuous attention of those affected by the disease.
“We must turn these commitments into concrete actions to ensure that each person at risk has access to prevention, diagnosis and timely and effective treatment of TB. Therefore, we urge all, including the state government, civil society, the private sector and individuals, to continue collaborating and invest in prevention, diagnosis and attention of the TB,” said Dr Zonto.