South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives have used this year 2020 World tuberculosis Day to sensitize the populace on how to prevent Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Addressing Newsmen during a press conference held in Abia General hospital Aba ,the Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association Abia state chapter, Dr Mrs Carol Iwuoha ,said tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person, through the air ,adding that TB usually affects the lungs but it can affect other parts of the body ,such as the brain, kidney or the spine .
,She described Tuberculosis as a chronic disease which in most cases is treatable and curable ,however hinted that people with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment,while adding that drug resistance can occur when the drugs used to treat are mismanaged .
She said world Tuberculosis Day is an annual event designed to build public awareness on Tuberculosis ,revealing that Tuberculosis is causing the death of nearly 1.5 million people every year ,saying the disease is real and it should give us concern
The NMA Abia state Boss ,pointed out some of the major symptoms of Tuberculosis to include ,cough,fever ,weight loss ,blood in mucus ,chest pain ,night sweats among others .
Dr Iwuoha ,revealed that the National Tuberculosis Control Program has made concerted efforts with various strategies being involved to control this chronic disease .
According to her in 2016 ,WHO launched the end TB strategy which its specific target include 90% reduction of Tuberculosis deaths and 80% reduction in TB incidence.
She appealed to people to go for diagnosis and treatment ,when they notice some of these symptoms.
In her speech ,the Vice Chairman ,National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives,Abia state ,Dr Lady Stella Okore , disclosed that the health sector in the state is highly worried .
Dr Okore decried the non payment of health workers’ salaries in the State, disclosing that the health sector , hence “we are asking those in authority to consider it as very necessary to protect the health workers as well as pay them their salaries to enable them work effectively”