Delta State On The Verge Of TB Epidermic– Dr. Bakpa

By Norbert Fidelis

In what looks like a bombshell speech, the Delta State Programme Officer On Tuberculosis, Dr. Francis Onajohwo Bakpa has raised alarm over the surge of TB cases in the State , saying it is gradually rising to the level of becoming an epidermic

This was disclosed during the COWOYEM Private Sector Consultative roundtable meeting, at Orchid Hotel, Asaba.

Speaking , Dr. Bakpa said the quarter target Every year for TB is 3,709 but only 1,789 has been funded so far, warning that a TB patient can infect up to 10 to 15 persons in a year. He mentioned the different TB cases to include, those who are drug sensitive , drug resistant ,extensive resistance and total resistance, adding that those suffering from the the latter has no hope of surviving.

The State helmsman on TB ,lamented the lack of facilities and funds for the treatment of the disease in the State , saying that it has contributed majorly to the reason why the State is gradually drifting to an epidermic level . He highlighted some the challenges they are facing to include, lack of proper funding, lack of treatment materials, lack of treatment centres epileptic power supply and lack of good roads. Dr. Bakpa also maintained that, only 3 laboratories are functioning at optimal capacity out of 15, while there are just 14 Gene expert machine for the 25 LGAs in the State.. He then urged the govt. to train more staffs , renovate the labs and treatment centres as well as create more awareness via the media maintaining that treatment for the disease is free

Also speaking , a representative of Policy Alert, which is the organization anchoring the project, Mr. Koko Udoh ,said , the goal of the project is to seek better funding for TB in the State by asking govt. to release enough funds for the treatment of the disease and also including it in the State Health Insurance Scheme. Mr Udoh also said that the essence of bringing in the Private Sector is to see ways they can help out in the TB specific asks, either by buying TB machines for treatments , buying food items for patients, providing materials and renovatimg TB centres and labs. Others can as well sponsor TV and Radio Jingles or organize sensitization and awareness programme, as all these will go a long way to tame the deadly disease and reduce the funding gap to the barest minimum

Earlier on, the Executive Director of Concern For Women And Youth Empowerment Int.”l (COWOYEM), Mrs. Tessy Enahoro, which is the implementing partner of the project, had hinted that there is no enough funds for the treatment of the disease in the State and treatment centres are always located in a squalor, adding that international donors have been contributing majorly for the treatment of TB patients .

The meeting was put together by SCALE Palladium ,with COWOYEM as the implementing partner for Delta State and it’s been sponsored by USAID

The objective of the project is to seek other ways of getting funds ,as well as unlocking funding opportunities for the treatment of TB in the State when donors eventually hands off.