The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the rate of tuberculosis (TB) infections in Borno was on the rise, and it issued a warning about this on Monday.
At the 13th WHO End-Term Joint Operations Review (JOR) for North-East Nigeria in Yola, Dr. Walter Mulombo, the organisation’s Head of Mission/Country Representative, voiced the organisation’s concerns
Jerrymusa.com reports that, TB is a bacterial infection that typically attacks the lungs.JOR is for the states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY), which are impacted by the Boko Haram insurgency, according to NAN as well
Nonetheless, the national delegate reaffirmed WHO’s willingness to collaborate with the Borno administration to resolve the issue.
“The rate of tuberculosis infection in Borno is concerning,” he stated. It implies that Borno may have a ticking time bomb for Nigeria’s TB epidemic.
“We need to cooperate because that situation is strictly an emergency; we don’t want to allow that because of the humanitarian crisis.”
In order to fulfil the UN Sustainable Development Goal of leaving no one behind and to expedite assistance, Mulombo asked stakeholders to take action.
Before, Borno’s governor, Babagana Zulum, claimed that the insurgency had caused the state to lose almost 50% of its medical facilities and that numerous employees had been kidnapped or killed.
Zulum stated, “One of the consequences of this is the issue of tuberculosis, which needs a lot of staff to work on it, including machines,” on behalf of Dr. Baba Malam-Gana, the Borno Commissioner for Health.
As per his statement, he now employs military assistance to deliver services, like immunisations, to remote places.
He asked the global organisation to assist in addressing issues related to gender-based violence as well as other areas.
Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri congratulated the group for its numerous services to the state through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Felix Tangwame.
He said that, among other things, WHO had offered a number of services, including surveillance and capacity building, to stop disease outbreaks in the state.
He demanded greater support, particularly in the area of educating healthcare professionals about emerging illnesses and how to manage them.