Lagos gov’t launches search for 15,000 tuberculosis carriers

…names council chairpersons as ambassadors

The Lagos State government has intensified efforts to identify and treat approximately 15,000 residents suspected of carrying tuberculosis (TB) symptoms, who are currently untraceable within the state.

In a strategic move to curb the spread of the highly infectious disease, the state government, through the Office of the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in partnership with the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, officially appointed 10 female council chairpersons and 47 wives of local government and local council development area chairpersons as TB ambassadors. These ambassadors are tasked with identifying and raising awareness about TB at the grassroots level.

The investiture ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Lagos House in Ikeja, saw the First Lady charge the newly appointed TB ambassadors to leverage traditional and social media platforms, particularly radio and television, to spread information about tuberculosis.

“As TB ambassadors, your role is to create widespread awareness about tuberculosis. This includes organizing activities during World TB Day, engaging stakeholders, and taking the message to schools, markets, churches, mosques, and other public spaces. We must act swiftly because TB cases are rising significantly,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu urged.

She stressed the urgency of the mission, giving the ambassadors 48 hours to initiate awareness campaigns within their communities. Dr. Sanwo-Olu further noted that while TB is highly contagious, it is preventable and curable if detected early and treated completely to avoid further transmission.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, revealed that in 2024, the number of confirmed TB cases in Lagos rose to 32,000, an increase from 18,000 cases in 2023. Of the 32,000 cases, only 15,000 individuals have been diagnosed and treated, leaving another 15,000 carriers undiagnosed and at large within the state.

Prof. Abayomi expressed concerns over the potential spread of the disease, warning that each untreated carrier could infect up to 15 others, potentially leading to an alarming 300,000 cases in Lagos by 2025.

“For years, we have been diagnosing and treating TB patients. However, we now need council chairpersons to actively search for the remaining 15,000 carriers who are at large,” he said.

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.

The Health Commissioner also cautioned that large social gatherings such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals are common avenues for TB transmission, urging residents to be vigilant in such settings.

During the event, Deputy Director and Program Manager, Olusola Sokoya, highlighted Nigeria’s alarming contribution to the global TB burden, with the country accounting for 6% of the 2.9 million cases worldwide, making it the highest in Africa.

He identified risk factors such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and poverty as key contributors to the disease’s spread.

Sokoya also presented data from a 2023 report on TB cases across Lagos local governments, which showed Alimosho leading with 5,579 cases, followed by Mushin with 4,523.

The First Lady also inaugurated the Lagos TB Steering Committee and members of the Stop TB Partnership, Lagos, further emphasizing the government’s commitment to eradicating tuberculosis in the state.

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