Over 149 patients have reportedly died of tuberculosis, also known as TB, while 7,000 others are infected with the deadly disease in Cross River State in the last two years.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, revealed this during the inauguration of the 2024 Tuberculosis Campaign to mark World Tuberculosis Day at Christ for the World Mission, Calabar.
He said: TB is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by a mycobacterium, mainly infecting the lungs, causing tubercles characterised by expectoration of mucus and sputum, fever, weight loss, chest pain, and transmitted through inhalation or ingestion of bacteria.
“You can see that the mortality is not accepted. TB is a killer, yet it can be prevented. It can be treated. This is why we came here to let people know.
“There are about 177 treatment centres in Cross River State. I am urging residents of the state with coughs that have lasted beyond two weeks to visit any of the centres for free diagnosis and treatment.”
When you visit any treatment centre and you are declared positive, treatment is free; it’s the reason we are here in church to let you know this.”The Programme Manager, TB and Leprosy Control in Cross River, Dr Bassey Offor, in his remarks, said one infected person with TB could infect more than 15 persons within a year.
Offor enumerated local government areas in the state with high prevalence of tuberculosis to include Calabar South, Ogoja, Boki and Yakurr, stressing that a filthy environment was responsible for tuberculosis infection.
The state Coordinator of the Breakthrough Action, Pascaline Edim, advised residents not to live in crowded and filthy environments so as not to be infected with the virus.
She urged nursing mothers to ensure that the antigens vaccine was administered to their babies, given the fact that the virus is an airborne disease.
