The state commissioner for health, Dr Henry Ayuk, has disclosed that a total of 149 persons have died of tuberculosis and 7,000 others infected with the virus in Cross River State in two years. He gave this statistics yesterday in Calabar during the flag-off of the campaign to mark World Tuberculosis Day 2024 at Christ for the World Mission, Calabar.
“You can see that the mortality is not accepted. TB is a killer, yet it can be prevented. It can be treated. This is why we came here to let people know.” Ayuk said.
He also added that there were about 177 treatment centres in Cross River, and that residents of the state with long lasting cough beyond two weeks should visit any of the treatment centres for free diagnosis and treatment.
The health commissioner further explained, “When you visit any treatment centre and you are declared positive, treatment is free. It is the reason we are here in church to let you know this.”
Also, the programme manager, TB and Leprosy Control in Cross River, Dr Bassey Offor, said one infected person with TB can infect more than 15 persons within a year.
