The NTBLCP (National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme) has urged the citizens of Nigeria to respect those who are infected with Tuberculosis as it is their right.
The Director, the National Coordinator of the programme, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, stated this during an interview in Abuja on Friday, 10 June.
As per Anyaike, stigma impacts the health-seeking behaviour of people and is a significant factor that causes the burden of Tuberculosis all around the world.
He further said that stigma not only hurts people impacted by Tuberculosis but has also lessened the commitment of healthcare workers toward high-quality healthcare service delivery.
He also told the reason behind men being the larger affected by Tuberculosis in Nigeria. He stated they were the sole breadwinners with the attendant openness to environmental hazards that favoured Tuberculosis infection.
He also said that excessive stress with possible undernutrition also gives rise to this infection. Basic lifestyles that may be the risk factors for developing Tuberculosis are mining and smoking, among others.
Anyaike further mentioned that awareness creation and enhanced laboratory networks had boosted the health-seeking behaviour of men, therefore showing improved disease detection.
He emphasised that the government is improving and fostering the strategies for Tuberculosis case detection in Nigeria as more men coming up with the same disease are just confirming the obvious.
“Government still maintains the fair distribution of healthcare services in the country.”
The basic symptoms of TB disease are feelings of sickness or weakness, weight reduction, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, as well as the coughing up of blood. Other Symptoms of this disease in other parts of the body depends on the area affected.
Tb patients are treated with a mixture of antibacterial medications for a period of six to 12 months.
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