Health

Oyo Gov. Takes Step to Curb TB Cases

By Web News 896

Oyo State government has acquired more equipment to facilitate speedy discovery and treatment of tuberculosis cases in the state.

The government is also working on enhance aggressive awareness creation and case finding to end the scourge of Tuberculosis in the state.

A Tuberculosis Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Mrs Abimbola Oyebamiji stated these in Ibadan at a three-day programme review and planning exercise organized by the Breakthrough Action Nigeria (B.A.N)

Mrs Oyebamiji said the disease is curable, provided patients are detected early and treated promptly emphasized that the treatment is available and free in all Health Institutions and Primary Health Centers across the State.

The TB officer revealed that 11, 817 individuals tested positive for Tuberculosis in Oyo state in 2021.

She described Tuberculosis disease as one of the leading public health problems in Nigeria and a global health threat with high risk of morbidity and mortality.

According to Mrs Oyebamiji, Tuberculosis can be eliminated by strengthening the current TB programmes to diagnose and treat the disease.

She emphasized the importance of media in creating awareness, and influencing policy-makers in favour of sound public health interventions, saying that media has always proved to be the most effective tool in promoting awareness among the masses.

In another presentation, the Deputy Health Educator, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Mrs Folashade Oladele explained that Oyo state Ministry of Health has been working round to ensure that everyone is healthy and curb communicable diseases in the state.

Mrs Oladele pointed out that the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of establishing Health Institutions with the approval of the Federal government and reducing hazards in workplaces.

Earlier in an interview, Oyo State Coordinator of Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Afachung said the organization will not relent in working with media in spreading the gospel for a healthy Nigeria.

Mrs Afachang said the Organization is currently working in 22 local government areas in the state, saying that TB endemic areas have been delineated and adequate steps were being taken to prevent and manage the infectious disease.

Some Media practitioners who attended the retreat promised to collaborate with Oyo state Ministry of Health in ending issues concerning Malaria, Tuberculosis and Covid19.

The practitioners from different media houses in the state while giving assurance also promised to work with their colleagues on the health field irrespective of their organizations.

During the brainstorming and review sessions, other health facilitators and field workers also shared their experiences, testimonies and success stories in deflating series of health challenges in rural areas of the state.

Nafiu Busari

Health

Covid-19: Get vaccinated to boost your immunity – Oyo Govt.

By Web News 1030

The need for the people of Oyo State not to trivialize COVID-19 vaccination took the centre stage at a one-day Media Orientation meeting on the Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign, jointly put together by the Breakthrough Action-Nigeria and Oyo State Government.

Issues discussed included, the negative impact of myths around Covid-19 vaccination, the need to be fully vaccinated, the importance of the vaccine, and the need for the media to embark on aggressive awareness campaigns on the Covid-19 scourge.

The event attracted journalists across Radio, Print, TV, and bloggers.

Speaking, the State Health Educator, Oyo State Primary Health Board, Mr. Olarinde Olaoye who gave details about the level of Covid-19 prevalence in Oyo State, said it was essential for all to get vaccinated to aid control of the virus.

While urging the public to dispel all forms of misinformation around the vaccination, he said evidence abound that those who were already vaccinated did not suffer negative consequences. 

On her part, Oyo State Coordinator of Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Afachung said the essence of the workshop was to enlighten the media on the need to encourage the public to embrace vaccination.

She said the media had a pivotal role to play in information dissemination, hence the need for the workshop.

Mrs. Afachung said it was disheartening that many people had fallen victim to unfounded claims about the vaccination, a development which according to her was not the best for the nation.

Underscoring the potency of vaccination, she said it provided antibodies that would not allow the virus to cause severe havoc even when the disease was contracted.

Mrs. Afachung, however, called on the public not to lose guard on non-pharmaceutical preventive protocols to Covid-19.

Adedayo Adelowo