By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A Non Governmental Organization, PLAN Health Advocacy and Developmental Foundation (PLAN Foundation) on Tuesday, advocated spirited efforts to end Tuberculosis by 2030.
The foundation made the call at a media briefing in Ibadan through Mrs Ifedayo Osemwegie to mark the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day.
Mrs Osemwegie stressed that the Foundation aligns unequivocally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the need for action on several fronts to ensure that the commitments made to end TB are achieved.
According to the foundation, the actions included ” High-level leadership and action to end TB; Sustainable investment of resources, support, care and information that are vital to ensure universal access to TB care and for research”
The foundation listed others to include “Scaling up of access to TB preventive treatment and screening services, building on the newly released WHO investment case,
Advancing multi sectoral engagement and accountability in close collaboration with countries, partners and civil society; and
Tacking health inequities to ensure health for all.
” Tuberculosis (TB) remains a formidable global health challenge, causing immense suffering and claiming millions of lives each year”, she said.
Mrs Osemwegie added, ” TB is a contagious bacterial infection, primarily affecting the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, it spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, making it highly transmissible.
” Despite significant progress in TB control efforts, including improved diagnostic and treatment options, the fight against TB is far from over”.
She stressed further that one promising approach” in the battle against TB is the development and implementation of shorter treatment regimes, adding ” shorter regimens offer a beacon of hope in addressing challenges in Traditional TB treatment.
The foundation however, called on media practitioners to join it ” as partners and allies in providing the society with much needed information and enlightenment to defeat the debilitating stigma borne out of inadequate information which is posing serious threats to our collective fight against Tuberculosis”
