By Lanre Omotosho
Nigerians have been advised to disregard the misconceptions that tuberculosis is hereditary, caused by curses or witches and wizards.
Programme Manager, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer in Ekiti State, Mr. Joshua Orojo gave the advice while speaking with Radio Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti on the commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day.
The TB program Manager who identified tuberculosis as an airborne disease which could be transmitted from one person to another, stressed that late presentation often resulted in blood coughing, hence the misconceptions.
Mr Orojo noted that the misconceptions made many people not to submit themselves for early screening, which led to ten percent death of the discovered cases last year in Ekiti State.
He urged anyone with more than two weeks coughing, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss to visit the nearest health facilities, as funds were available from global partners in conjunction with the Ekiti State goverment to treat tuberculosis patients free of charge.
Mr. Orojo who emphasized that anyone is at risk of contracting tuberculosis, including children, added that early detection and treatment of the disease would help to eradicate the scourge.
He opined that men were more prone to contracting the disease than women because of social behavior such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which reduced their immunity.
Mr. Orojo noted that with avoidance of over crowded places, good cough etiquette and adherence to drugs regulations, tuberculosis would be eradicated to safe the future.
Since March 24, 1882 when the bacterium causing tuberculosis was first discovered, the disease still remain one of the world’s deadliest diseases, and the theme for this year is “Yes! We can end TB”.
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