…say treatment is free, urge residents to get tested and know their status
By Udesinanna Stephen
Ekiti State, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) Ekiti State in Conjunction with Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, has called on journalists to use their platforms to create better awareness on the prevention and treatment of TB in the society.
This is the thrust of a 1-day TB Media Personnel Refresher Training sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), held in Ado-Ekiti.
According to them, aside from the wide reach of the media, it has gained the confidence of the people, hence whatever message they pass is generally accepted by the people.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager, NTBLCP, Ekiti State, Orojo Joshua Adebayo urged journalists to carry out more reports that are of human angles about TB to pass the right message to their audience.
He urged residents to ensure they submit themselves for tests to know their status.
According to him, tests and treatment for TB are available in all Primary Health Care facilities for free, just as he highlighted the symptoms to include cough beyond 2 weeks, loss of weight, weakness, night sweats, and fever.
Also, the Director of Community and Family Health, Ekiti State Primary Health Live Development Agency, Dr Akintunde Ogunsakin, noted that a huge part of TB patients fail to go for checking despite having free TB treatment.
“We have the facilities but the major challenges are we don’t have those visiting, we need the public to bring to us TB issues, we need the Media to motivate the public towards reaching out to us.” He said.
Similarly, the Programme Officer, Social Behavioural Communication (SBC) for the Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria Nigeria, Speaker called on the government, media, and traditional bodies to engage the public towards advising them to visit the hospital when suspected of TB, which will help end TB in the State and the country at large.
She urged journalists to do more research and look for stories that could inspire people to do the right thing regarding TB.
Participants at the programme thanked the organizers and promised to used their platforms to pass the necessary information to people about TB.
