Nigeria: Experts Raise Alarm over Rising TB Cases
At least five out of ten patients suffering from tuberculosis in Nigeria are found to be HIV positive, Dr, Phillip Lenkan, and Ministry of Defence’s Programme Manager for the control of HIV in civilians in the ministry, said.
The medical practitioner said although the rate of HIV infection had reduced greatly in the country in the last three years due to intensive public awareness on the prevention and care for the people living with the disease, there was an alarming increase in tuberculosis cases in Nigeria. In an interview with newsmen at the end of a two-day workshop on HIV prevention, care and support in Minna, Dr. Lekan explained that the situation was complicated by the resistance of TB to drugs, making its treatment difficult. Also speaking at the event, Adeyemi Adekunle, a pharmacist, called for the kind of approach used by the federal government in reducing the high rate of HIV infection in tackling TB.
No Comments