Tuberculosis On The Rise In Kano

A total of 4, 413 new cases of tuberculosis were registered in Kano from January to September this year, Dr. Tijjani Hussain, the Coordinator of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in the state, has said.

Hussain said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday that the number of TB cases had been on the increase since 2003.

According to him, the number of registered cases has jumped from 2, 236 patients in 2003 to 6, 090 cases in 2011.

The coordinator, however, assured that the figure was not frightening as it was below the “20, 000 new TB cases expected to be discovered yearly in the state.”

Hussain said so far, 50, 701 TB patients had been diagnosed and put on treatment in the last nine years across the state.

On measures to control the prevalence of the disease, the coordinator said the agency was providing free testing and treatment as well as enlightening members of the public on ways to avoid the disease.

“We also intensify diagnosis of HIV clients because they have higher predisposition of becoming infected with tuberculosis.

“In 2003 we had only five general hospitals providing free TB treatment to patients, but at the moment we have about 218 centres comprising of dispensaries and other facilities across the state providing these services,’’ he added.