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Medical experts have warned against the spread of the incurable variant of tuberculosis in Nigeria.
As part of activities celebrating World TB Day (WTD) today, they have alerted citizens about the resurgence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDRTB) cases across the country, even as an action Immediate action was taken to combat this threat.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the plague rages in the country between 400,000 and 450,000 cases, the highest in Africa and the sixth in the world.
The global body said the multidrug-resistant multivariate outbreak remained a public health crisis, estimating that 558,000 new cases of resistance to rifampicin – the most effective first-line drug.
Dr. Olukemi Longe-Peters, coordinator of the Directly Monitored Treatment Short-cure (DOTS) at the University Hospital of Lagos (LUTH), said in an exclusive interview with The Guardian: "A form of tuberculosis called Multi Drug Resistance TB (MDRTB) is unfortunately 10 years ago, when I started with this program, there were only cases by default.People who have already been treated and who are not faithful to their medication are the only people we observe against MDR-TB, see new cases that have MDR which means that it is spreading ".
She emphasized that development should be of great concern to all because the disease does not respond easily to treatment.
"MDR-TB, at the beginning of treatment, takes at least nine to 12 months, or even 24 months to be treated," Longe-Peters said.
The public health doctor continued: "It takes eight different drugs with side effects and very painful injections.The idea is to make sure that the symptoms do not develop.If people could be screened in time and faithful to this first-line drug most of them will be treated and will be able to cope with the situation without developing MDR-TB. "
The coordinator suggested that TB is endemic throughout the federation and that no one is spared from the infection.
In addition, WHO has issued a new guideline aimed at improving the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. He recommends moving to a full oral diet to treat people with the disease.
Prescription is more effective and less likely to cause unwanted side effects.
The agency has recommended supporting treatment by actively monitoring the safety of medications and providing psychological support to help patients complete their treatment.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, said: "We emphasize that it is urgent to translate the commitments made at the UN High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis into 2018 in an action that guarantees the support of all needs.
"Tuberculosis is the world's leading infectious killer disease, claiming 4,500 lives a day, with communities facing socio-economic problems, those working and living in high-risk environments, the poorest and the most marginalized. the most affected. "
At the same time, the Joint United Nations Program on AIDS (UNAIDS) has reported mixed progress in achieving the 2020 goal of reducing by 75% the number of deaths from tuberculosis among people living with HIV.
The agency said that only five countries had reached the goal three years before the deadline and that 18 others were on the right track.
However, Nigeria and a number of countries are likely to miss the target.
As a result, UNAIDS urged countries to intensify their efforts to achieve the target set, as defined in the United Nations Political Declaration on AIDS, 2016.
WHO estimates around the world show that the number of deaths from TB among people living with HIV has decreased by 42% since 2010, from 520,000 to 300,000 in 2017.
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