Connect with us

Metro

335 tuberculosis related deaths recorded in Kano in 2018

Published

on

As the world marks the 2019 Tuberculosis Day, the Kano state Commissioner of Health, Kabiru Getso, on Tuesday stated that over 335 persons lost their lives as a result of Tuberculosis- related diseases in 2018.

While briefing reporters as part of its activities to mark the 2019 World TB Day, the commissioner expressed disgust that the deaths could have been preventable if TB patients had access to the free medical services provided by the state government.

On the number of TB deaths recorded in the state in 2018, he said: “An unfortunate happening is that most deaths are preventable if people can access and utilize the free and available diagnostic services and commence appropriate treatment for TB on time.”

READ ALSO: Police parade man for allegedly selling Six-year-old girl for ritual

Gesto said Kano government in collaboration with development partners has been able to expand DOTS centres from 381 in 2016 to over 770 in 2019.

The State, he claimed, has also increased access to diagnostic equipment and services from 86 AFB laboratories in 2016 to 255 in 2019, adding the government also installed 10 additional Genexpert machines from 2015 to date bringing it up to 18 Genexpert sites.

He added that Kano state government has also expanded TB services to prisons, military barracks, police academy and tertiary institutions in the states.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now