This year, the Cross River State Government in collaboration with fhi360 and KNC Tuberculosis in the week-long event took to the streets of Calabar and hard-to-reach areas to raise awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of the disease.
With an average of 500 cases reported quarterly through active case finding, a total of 6000 new cases has been reported in the State since mid-2015 and 22 Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB) patients are currently receiving treatment from across the State.
‘To accelerate the TB response, the State Government has so far set up 200 Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) TB centers across the State, with 60 Microscopic Centers across the State for diagnosis at absolutely no cost.
We flagged some suspected cases during our rally at Etim Edem Park and they have been referred for further further management in our specialist facility Dr. Inyang Asibong; Commissioner for Health.
Each day, nearly 4500 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 54 million lives since the year 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 42%.
The theme this year – ‘It’s time’ – puts the accent on the urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to scale up access to prevention and treatment etc.
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