By Hassan Zaggi
The National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, has warned of the rising cases of the leprosy in Nigeria.
He also warned that despite the efforts of the government to cut the transmission of Tuberculosis (TB), the disease is still in the country as the Nigeria recorded over 200,000 new cases in 2021 which he said was the least so far.
Responding to questions at a two-day engagement with Journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Dr. Anyaike, called on Nigerians to always adopt preventive measures in order to prevent themselves from being infected by the diseases.
He charged Nigerians to always go to the hospital in good time whenever they have symptoms of the disease, stressing that it is treatable.
Speaking on the TB situation in Nigeria, the NTBLCP Coordinator lamented that data shows that only 27 per cent of Nigerians are aware of TB, reiterating that the disease is preventable and that treatment is free in all health facilities in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is number one in TB burden in Africa and the sixth in the whole world. The data we have is that on an annual basis, we have new infections in the tune of 440,000 new cases. Except last year that we have been able to, for the first time, break it to only above 200,000 cases being identified. This is a very big plus for the country.
“So, we have been running on the data that we have above 300,000 missing cases annually in the country. If the literature shows that one undetected case has the capacity to infect 20-25 people, that means that Nigeria is sitting on the keg of gun powder when it comes to TB burden.”
On the strategies put in place to cut TB transmission in the country, Dr. Anyaike said: “We are therefore, putting our efforts on three strategies. One; is primary prevention, that is why we brought the media here so that people would know the situation, prevent themselves and let people the know when they have certain symptoms, they should go to the nearest hospital.
“The second one is efficient and effective diagnosis. We are scaling up our diagnostic platforms to enable us detect new cases.
“Third; the ones we have been able to detect, we place them on treatment because its curable. If we are able to get them cured, then we are on the road towards cutting the chain of transmission and that is the sure way of ending TB in Nigeria.”
Leprosy bouncing back
The NTBLCP Coordinator disclosed that leprosy is on the rise among both adults and children because, according to him, adequate and proper information about the disease is no more in the public space coupled with the poor health seeking behavior of Nigerians.
Speaking on why leprosy is bouncing back, Dr. Anyaike said: “The missing link is that the information is no more there. People could get signs that this could be leprosy, but they would not go to the hospital. And also the issue of stigma and discrimination is very important.
“A young lady who will not want to be seen to have leprosy will keep treating ordinary skin diseases. But if one goes to the hospital, he will be given the treatment and he/she goes.”
He, however, regretted that: “People usually come with it to the hospital at the late stage with a lot of complications. One thing with leprosy is that once it affects your limbs, even if it is cured, the limp cannot go back. The fact is that the leprosy had eaten up part of the body and it cannot regrow again.
