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| Image: A section of participants at the stakeholders' sensitisation programme to commemorate 2025 World TB Day, held at Sir, Ahmadu Bello Hall, Dutse, Jigawa state. |
By Salisu Kabuga
A staggering 219 out of every 100,000 people in Jigawa State are at risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) disease across the state.
This alarming statistic was revealed at the commemoration of 2025 World TB Day, themed; Ensuring Health Equity, Partnerships for Accessible Quality Products, held today (Tuesday) at Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall, Jigawa State Secretariat Complex, Dutse, the State capital.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Program Manager, TB and leprosy control, Jigawa State, Ministry of Health, Mr. Umar Muhammad said that in Jigawa state, 219 out of every 100,000 people are at risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) disease considering the rapid spread of the disease according to World Health Organisation's statistics.
The Jigawa State Acting Program Manager, TB and leprosy, stated that, that Nigeria is number one in TB burden, with Jigawa State ranking eighth in the country.
Last year, he said, about 71,000 people died of TB, while over 500,000 were estimated to have TB, but only 400 were detected and treated nationwide.
According to Mr. Muhammad, in Jigawa State, about 16,000 people were presumed to have TB last year, but only 10,000 were detected and treated, expressing optimism that this year's reinvigorated mass awareness campaign would yield better results.
Mr. Umar Muhd emphasized the need for collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders to tackle the spread of TB.
He urged stakeholders to redouble their efforts in the awareness campaign and ensure personal and public protection from contracting the disease.
"Jigawa state ministry is engaging all stakeholders, including media, traditional medicine herbalists, traditional rulers, and others, to combat TB," he added.
Further more, the TB and leprosy control Acting Manager in Jigawa state Mr. Muhammad therefore appealed to the public to practice personal and environmental hygiene to protect themselves against TB.
In their separate submissions, stakeholders at the commemoration of World TB Day in Jigawa state, including representatives from the Association of Traditional Medicine and Herbalists, Association of Chemist Owners, and National Union of Road Transport Workers, Haruna Sabo, Hani Isah and Comrade Yusif Musa respectively called for more collaboration with government agencies to combat TB.
They also advocated for token rewards for those who support the awareness campaign and secure referrals.
Newskeeper exclusively interviewed some ex-TB patients who shared their success stories. One of them, who preferred anonymity, said, "I was diagnosed with TB last year, but thanks to the treatment I received, I am now TB-free."
Another ex-TB patient, Mallam Abdullahi Kani, said, "I was treated for TB at a hospital in Dutse, and I am grateful to the healthcare workers who took care of me."
Our Correspondent reports that as Jigawa state joined the commemoration of the 2025 World TB Day, experts at the stakeholders' sensitisation programme reminded participants that TB is a preventable and treatable disease, hinting that with the concerted efforts, it is possible to reduce the incidence of TB in the state.
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