Posted by By Chuka Odittah on
Nigeria has been rated as fourth among the world's top countries that were leading in the spread of Tuberculosis (TB). Research showed that the bacterial infection had been a major killer alongside HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
Nigeria has been rated as fourth among the world's top countries that were leading in the spread of Tuberculosis (TB). Research showed that the bacterial infection had been a major killer alongside HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
Dr. Emeka Asandu of National Aids and STI Control, Federal Ministry of Health, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing reporters on the; "Imperatives for Handling Tuberculosis and HIV in Nigeria."
According to Asandu, a study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in recent times showed that an estimated one third of the 42m people that lived with HIV/AIDS worldwide were co-infected with TB, a bacterial infection that affected the lungs.
In the case of Nigeria, the survey showed that in 2002 alone, nearly 368,000 new cases of TB was recorded.
Out of this figure, 159,000 were pulmonary sputum smear-positive (SS+) cases, one of the highly critical variants of the epidemy.
Asandu explained that the reason for the sudden upsurge in reported cases of TB was because of the spread of the HIV disease. (TB is a killer of HIV/AIDS patients). He said that HIV virus attacked the immune system, which allowed the bacteria that caused TB to multiply and spread rapidly.
HIV/AIDS he said, had caused a 6 percent annual increase in the number of TB cases.
TB the doctor explained, was an air borne disease, which could easily be transferred from a sufferer of active TB, to an uninfected person
As a way out, Dr. Asadu advised all persons living with HIV/AIDS to take advantage of the current operation of Direct Observable Treatment Short Course (DOTS) the treatment of their TB infection. He said at the moment, about 900 TB diagnostic centers have been set up to offer otherwise free sputum test for patients across the country. He urged HIV/AIDS victims not conceal the ailment due to stigmatization. He said the disease could be effectively treated over a space of nine months if detected early.