Medical expert 1.5m people die from tuberculosis annually worldwide

No fewer than 1.5 million people die from Tuberculosis (TB) annually across the world, Dr Ayuba Dan-Asabe, the Sokoto State Coordinator of Tuberculosis Network, said on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dan-Asabe made the assertion at Bodinga, Headquarters of Bodinga Local Government Council at a reception for the Batch "C’’ NYSC members.

NAN also reports that there was a lecture on "Good Leadership and the Effect of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria on the Economic Development of Nigeria’’ at the event.

``This annual global toll from TB scourge is that out of the world population, nine million people become ill with it each year.

``In a single day, TB causes the equivalent in lives lost to 15 jetliner crashes,’’ the coordinator said.

He also lamented that TB is the number three cause of death among women of child bearing age.

``In the same vein, it is the number four cause of death among women of all ages, while more than half a million women die of TB each year.

``Half a million children become ill with TB every year. There are 10 million children worldwide who have been orphaned because their parents died of TB.

``Since 1995, 46 million persons had been successfully treated and up to 6.8 million lives saved through the use of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS).

``DOTS is a rigorous approach to treatment of TB endorsed by the World Health Organisation,’’ Dan-Asabe said.

The event’s organiser, Mr Dennis Utsa, Executive Coordinator, Centre For Community Participation and Youth Development, said it was aimed at sensitising the community on the diseases’ dangers and its effect on the society.