The Ekiti State Advocacy Team working on the Global Fund C-19RM/RSSH Grant, has stressed the need for governments to improve awareness on Tuberculosis in the state.
The group made the call during an Advocacy visit to the Ekiti State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, TBLC Oba Adejugbe Hospital Ado-Ekiti, on Monday.
A member of the advocacy team who is the Executive Director Environmental Development and Family Health Organization EDFHO Sir Olu Ogunrotimi described TB as major health concern which must not be toyed with.
He decried that TB is rampant in the state noting that there is low patronage at some Primary Health-Care facilities hence the need for more education.
He said: “Our purpose is to identify those challenges to be able to strengthen it. It is true that TB is rampant in the state and we have to find lasting solutions to it.
Also, the Ekiti State Coordinator, TB Network, Dr. Taiwo Benson, added that there is need to look away from donor dependence which he described as making government to be lackadaisical in their approach in eradicating the disease.
The State Programme Manager, TBLC, Orojo Adebayo, revealed that self-efforts has been the mechanism which the agency is using to track TB patients.
According to him, TB could be treated if detected on time.