World Tuberculosis Day: HFDI Takes Outreach To Akwa Ibom Markets, Advocates Protection
Hope For Family Development Initiative HFDI Akwa Ibom state marked World TB day with outreach at Afaha Nsit market.
The outreach created public awareness on Tuberculosis TB, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.
HFDI Akwa Ibom Programme Officer, Victoria Uyoh, speaking on awareness informed the market women about Tuberculosis (TB), a contagious bacterial infection, most often affecting the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spread through the air.
She added that it can be contacted from persons with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit, while mentioning the symptoms as Cough (sometimes with blood), chest pain, weakness weight loss, fever and night sweats.
She encouraged anyone having the symptoms to visit the nearest hospital, adding that Nigeria has a high rate tuberculosis (TB) ranking among the top countries globally, with an estimated 467,000 active TB cases in 2021.
She went further to emphasize TB is curable with antibiotics, but treatment can be long (6 months or more), stating that it faces significant challenges in detection and treatment, and she shared some of the ways in which one can prevent his/herself from getting infected by or spreading the diseases.
Practicing good hygiene when coughing, avoiding contact with infected persons, wearing nose mask, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and disposing of sputum and used tissues properly, were listed as ways to prevent tuberculosis infection.
The HFDI team at the market outreach also discussed early diagnosis and treatments, referral for HIV testing and checking of blood pressure, and they carried out free BP checking on about 45 persons and referred 11 persons to the facility for prompt treatment.
HIV testing and counselling was also carried out to help people to be aware of their status, because being HIV positive without treatment can pre-expose a person to tuberculosis infection.
Other HFDI team members at the outreach include, Idongesit Isu, Victoria Alban, Nsisong Utip, Grace Akpan, GLORY Lawrence and Elizabeth.