Kano Treats 1,058, Targets 6,000 Children For Free TB Screening

Kano State Ministry of Health has targeted 6,000 children for free tuberculosis screening in 1,346 centres across the state.

The ministry also said 1,058 children are currently undergoing treatment for the disease in the state.

The state commissioner for health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, made this known while briefing newsmen to commemorate the 2024 childhood tuberculosis testing week in Kano yesterday.

He said the 2024 event is integrated with other free health screening services for children such as nutrition, HIV, and X-ray as well as contact tracing of diagnosed children and placement on TB preventive treatment, among others.

He added that the exercise is targeted at Tsangaya schools, community outreaches, paediatric clinics, immunisation units/wards and screening of vulnerable children.

“As you may recall the first national children TB testing week was held last year (2023) that led to the detection and treatment of 4,054 children in Nigeria including 114 children detected and treated in Kano State and no child died due to TB during the week.

“We hope to screen at least 6,000 children for TB within this week in Kano State and Insha Allah together we will do so. You may wish to note that any undiagnosed or untreated child with TB disease can transmit it to about 10-15 people within one year.

“Today, Monday, May 27, 2024, marks the commencement of our seven-day journey for intensified TB screening of every child in Kano State free of charge! It is our children’s right to be screened for TB, it is our duty as parents to ensure the good health and well-being of our children and Kano State government has to provide the needed TB services and these services are provided everywhere in Kano State, so go to the nearest TB screening and testing centre and get your child tested free of charge,” he pointed out.

The commissioner further added that the state in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme and Partners has provided the needed equipment, drugs, trained personnel and other resources, including the recently deployed 20 Portable Digital X-Ray machines which were handed over by the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare to the state government in February.

“Other equipment includes 26 GeneXpert Machines, 6 TrueNat and 9 TB LAMP machines, over 250 Microscopes, thousands of HIV Test Kits and TB and HIV Medications, amongst others,” he added.

Labaran thanked the state government for prioritising health issues in the state as well as development partners for their unwavering support.