Tuberculosis (TB) may become an epidemic soon in Enugu state on HWN TUBERCULOSIS UPDATE

The Enugu state government on Saturday expressed worries over the increasing cases of Tuberculosis (TB) disease in the state, revealing that no less than 1,542 cases were detected in 2014.
The disease, which has become a major public health threat to the Men, women and children in the state, is also sending jitters down the spines of most residents.

Out of the identified number, twenty per cent of the cases were detected in Ogrute District Hospital of Igboeze-North local government area of the state.

The state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi made the disclosure while unveiling a Chest clinic for Tuberculosis and Leprosy, built, equipped and donated to the state by Star Deepwater Petroleum limited, a Chevron Company and Agbami co-venturers -Famfa, Statoil, Petrobras and NNPC.

The facility equipped with ultra modern x-ray machine, male and female wards, laboratories, Gene Xpert machine, treatment rooms and other state of the art machines, is local inside Ogrute District Hospital.

The governor who was represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sam Ngwu, said the government was delighted at the donation meant for its people suffering from the unfortunate ailments of the ancient times.

He noted that Nigeria ranks third in the world in terms of number of people with TB diseases with 590, 000 cases of TB in 2014.

Handing over the facility on behalf of Agbami partners, the Director DW & PSCS, Deepwater Petroleum limited, Jeffrey Ewing, said even though Agbami field is located 113 kilometres offshore Nigeria, it has a deep offshore community affairs engagement principle that views the entire country as Agbami community.

Ewing, who was represented by the company’s manager, policy, government and public affairs, Lagos, Mr. Sam Otuonye, said Agbami partners have interventions that are adding value to Nigerians in the areas of education and health such as libraries, science laboratories, undergraduate scholarships, distributed throughout Nigeria.

We have donated 23 chest clinics to different states of the federation including the FCT, Abuja. We have also implemented awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases in several communities across the six geopolitical zones in the country. Medications were also made available to the people of affected communities,” said Ewing.

Chairman of Igboeze North council, Hon. Celestine Ezeugwu, on behalf of the people of the local government council congratulated both the state government and Agbami partners for finding their area worthy of location of the facility and commended the speed with which the project was completed within 12 months, while promising to protect and make good use of the facility.

Source: ThisDayLive, HWN Africa.