First lady calls for massive awareness campaign to end tuberculosis in Nigeria

The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on Stop Tuberculosis (TB) Partnership Nigeria, an NGO, and other developmental partners to carry out a massive awareness campaign to end tuberculosis in the country.

She said the need for raising awareness was necessary so that the public could know that tuberculosis could be diagnosed, managed and treated free of charge.

She said that her pet project, "Future Assured’’, which deals with health of the women and children, would collaborate with the NGO and wives of governors to check the spread of the disease.

"Thank you for choosing me to be one of your campaigner I will do it to the best of my ability using my office in collaboration with the wives of the governors to end the disease,'' she said.

She commended the Board of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria for organising the first tuberculosis conference in Nigeria.

UN Secretary-General Special Envoy on Tuberculosis Eric Goosby, said TB could be treated within six months after being diagnosed.

He said they would partner with Mrs Buhari’s pet project to get across to the people as women and children are the ones that are adversely affected.

He commended Mrs Buhari for working to improve the health of women and children, saying they would support project to achieve its set goals.

Also speaking, The Exercutive Director, Stop TB Partnership, Dr Lucica Ditiu, said Nigeria ranked fourth among countries with highest prevalence of TB in the world.

She, however, said the disease could be eradicated if priority was given to enlightenment on its spread and control.

She urged Mrs Buhari to integrate TB as part of her pet programme.