In an effort to fast-track the disease’s detection and treatment, the Rivers State Government has given 46 motorcycles to the deputies and supervisors of tuberculosis in each of the state’s 23 local government districts.
According to the government, the Federal Ministry of Health was one of its partners in the gesture.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, while presenting the motorbikes to the health officials in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday said it was to enable them to reach the hard-to-reach parts of the state and finally rid the state of tuberculosis.
Oreh went on to say that the donation was intended to help the state—which is now third in the nation for tuberculosis eradication—move up to the top.
She stated, “Tuberculosis is one of those notorious infections which have been ravaging countries across the world, especially low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.
“In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme with immense support from the Global Fund, we are here gathered with these 46 motorcycles which will be given to the 23 local government areas TB Supervisors.
“We know that at the forefront of tackling this deadly infectious disease is active community surveillance. These motorcycles will enable the TB supervisors and the deputies to go into the nooks and crannies of our communities to identify those who may be infected and put them on the treatment that they need.nd their Deputies.
“It may interest you to note that Rivers State has a treatment success rate of 96 per cent which is above the World Health Organisation benchmark. But with these motorcycles, I’m confident that we (Rivers) will get to 100 per cent treatment success.”
The commissioner expressed satisfaction that the State Tuberculosis Treatment Programme had produced notable outcomes over the years, stating, “We want to rid the state of tuberculosis and as of right now, Rivers State has been recognised nationally by the Federal Ministry of Health as the third state in the nation for tuberculosis eradication efforts.”
She added, “These motorcycles are to assist them to carry out this work more successfully in our communities and we realised that to reach our communities and other locations can be very hard and that’s why these motorcycles have been provided to assist them to do that work, to find people.
“To find our brothers and our sisters within the communities in the hard-to-reach areas who may be suffering in silence, identify them, get them on treatment, and clear them of tuberculosis so that we render Rivers State free of tuberculosis.”
