Kaduna Commissioner: 32,297 Tuberculosis Cases Recorded in 2023

In 2023, Kaduna State detected a total of 32,297 tuberculosis cases, showcasing an improvement in both detection rates and prevention efforts against the disease, according to the State’s Commissioner for Health, Umma Kaltume-Ahmed. This statement was made during a press briefing held in Kaduna to mark the 2024 Tuberculosis Day.

The Commissioner highlighted that the state saw an increase in tuberculosis case identification from 21,557 in 2022 to 32,297 in 2023, signifying a notable enhancement in case discovery compared to the previous year. She credited this progress to the enhanced backing received by the Tuberculosis program from the state government and its partners in development.

Under the 2024 World TB Day theme, ‘Yes, We Can End TB,’ with the slogan, ‘No Gree For TB, Check Am O,’ the Commissioner emphasized a continued commitment to the goals set forth by global leaders at the 2020 United Nations high-level TB meeting in New York, aiming to eradicate the TB epidemic by 2030 through increased support for TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, financing, research, and the eradication of stigma and discrimination associated with TB.

She underscored that tuberculosis remains a severe global health threat, with over 4,100 individuals succumbing to the disease daily and nearly 28,000 new cases arising, despite it being a preventable and treatable ailment. Efforts to combat TB have saved about 66 million lives since 2000, although the progress made in TB eradication has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a rise in TB-related deaths in 2020 for the first time in years.

Highlighting the urgency of intensifying the fight against TB to fulfill global commitments and mitigate the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the Commissioner stressed the need for increased investments and awareness to hasten the end of the Tuberculosis epidemic.

She also mentioned that expanding the number of facilities offering TB services to cover 78% of targets exemplifies the state’s dedication to fighting TB, with the ultimate goal being the provision of services in every facility across Kaduna.

In a call for collective action, the Commissioner urged the residents of Kaduna State, as well as public and private organizations, to collaborate with the government’s efforts in eradicating TB and preserving lives.

She concluded her message by encouraging everyone to undergo testing if experiencing a persistent cough lasting two weeks or more, assuring the public that TB is treatable, with free diagnosis and treatment services readily accessible within the state.