Minister launches national wellness campaign for TB control

chika ebuzor

September 29, 2017 6:11 PM

Adewole launched the campaign on Friday in Abeokuta in the company of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has flagged off the national ‘Wellness On Wheels’ (WOW) campaign to control the spread of Tuberculosis (TB) and to increase case detection rate of the disease in the country.

Adewole launched the campaign on Friday in Abeokuta in the company of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

According to the minister, the campaign will ultimately lead to the elimination of tuberculosis in the country.

“These mobile TB diagnostic units will improve access to TB services by bringing TB screening and diagnosis to the door steps of clients as a one-stop shop”.

“Ultimately, this will ensure early diagnosis and treatment of TB, and contribute to halting the transmission of TB in the community.

“It will also improve the health seeking behaviour of the people through the health messages provided in the course of the campaigns,” he said.

He described the fight against the disease as a global task, saying that it is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, donor agencies and relevant stakeholders.

The minister disclosed that the United Nations has placed premium priority on the campaign against tuberculosis, adding that a summit will be dedicated to the course in 2018.

Amosun urged officials of the state ministry of health to ensure optimal usage of the truck so as to achieve its set objective.

ALSO READ: Hepatitis - FG to adopt strict control measures, says Isaac Adewole

He said that a detailed result on the progress of the scheme would be made available, adding that the campaign will be taken to all the citizens of the state across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 20 feet lead container inaugurated by the minister is equipped with an X-ray machine and two GeneXpert machines.

The truck has two separate compartments consisting of the X-ray room for screening and a laboratory for diagnosis of TB.

chika ebuzor