Nigeria And The World TB Day -By Shetu James

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs, though it can affect any organ in the body. It can develop when bacteria spread through droplets in the air. TB can be fatal, but in many cases, it is preventable and treatable.

In the past, TB, or “consumption,” was a major cause of death around the world. Following improvements in living conditions and the development of antibiotics, the prevalence of TB fell dramatically in industrialized countries.

However, in the 1980s, numbers started to rise again. The World Health Organization (WHO) describe it as an “epidemic.” They report that it is among the top 10 causes of death globally and “the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.”

As the whole world has celebrated world TB day yesterday March 24, 2021 to raise awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of the disease and to set up efforts to end TB epidemic.

Sadly enough, the Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS) has revealed that over 162,000 people die of tuberculosis annually in Nigeria.

Despite the fact that, the Nigerian tuberculosis management institute has been trying to ensure total eradication of the aforementioned diseases yet it keeps on spreading day-by-day.

Is the current treatment being applied not active or is the disease not cure rabble?

In a nutshell, I would like draw the attention of the Nigerian government in collaboration with World health organization must strive to find a way-out as this disease is seriously deadly.

Shetu James,

Department Of Mass Communication,

University Of Maiduguri.