Lagos in urgent search for 15,000 Tuberculosis carriers

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Lagos, Nigeria-In a bold initiative spearheaded by the First Lady’s office and the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, 10 female local government chairmen and the wives of 47 other council leaders have been appointed as TB Ambassadors.

These ambassadors are tasked with combating the spread of tuberculosis at the grassroots level, where the disease is most prevalent.

During the inauguration ceremony, Lagos State First Lady, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the urgency of the situation. She charged the newly appointed TB Ambassadors with raising awareness through traditional and social media channels, including radio and television, as well as mobilizing community stakeholders.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu noted that the disease, though highly infectious, is both preventable and curable if detected early, urging the ambassadors to use their influence to reach people across local governments.

“We need to act faster because TB cases are on the rise. The ambassadors have 48 hours to launch awareness programs in their communities. Use your voice to talk to the people,” Mrs. Sanwo-Olu urged, stressing that the campaign should reach markets, schools, churches, mosques, and other public spaces. She further called for collaborative efforts, noting that tuberculosis remains a significant public health concern in Lagos State.

Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, revealed sobering statistics during the event. In 2023, over 18,000 residents were diagnosed with tuberculosis. By 2024, this figure had surged to 32,000, with more than 15,000 cases yet to be treated.

This staggering rise has sparked concern among health officials, as untreated TB patients remain highly contagious, with the potential to infect an additional 15 people each if left untreated.

Tuberculosis: A Growing Concern In Lagos
Prof. Abayomi warned that if immediate action is not taken, Lagos could see its number of TB cases skyrocket to 300,000 by 2025. “If we don’t treat these 15,000 undetected carriers, the situation could become dire,” he cautioned. He encouraged the council chairmen to prioritize the search for these individuals to curb the spread of the disease.

The Commissioner also pointed out the role of large gatherings, such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals, as key transmission points for tuberculosis. He advised Lagosians to be cautious and more vigilant during these events, where the spread of infectious diseases like TB is more likely due to close contact among attendees.

Nigeria remains one of the highest contributors to tuberculosis cases in Africa. According to Deputy Director and Program Manager of the End TB Partnership, Olusola Sokoya, the country accounts for 6% of the 2.9 million global TB cases, making it a crucial battleground in the fight against the disease.

In his lecture, Ending Tuberculosis in Lagos: A Necessity to Ending TB Globally, Sokoya highlighted key risk factors that contribute to the spread of TB, including poverty, overcrowded living conditions, and poor sanitation.

Sokoya also shared data revealing that Alimosho Local Government Area had the highest number of TB cases in Lagos, with 5,579 reported cases, of which only 2,028 patients have been treated.

Mushin Local Government came in second, with 4,523 cases. The figures underscore the need for a robust public health response, particularly at the grassroots level, where TB cases often go undetected due to limited awareness and healthcare access.

Community Efforts To Combat TB
As part of the wider effort to combat tuberculosis in Lagos, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the Lagos TB Steering Committee and members of the STOP TB Partnership. This group will coordinate efforts to raise awareness, identify undetected TB carriers, and ensure that they receive timely treatment.