The Osun State Government has expressed concern over the spread of tuberculosis, identifying the movement of migrant miners and patients abandoning their medication as major challenges facing efforts to control the disease.
The state’s Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Programme Manager, Dr Rotimi Oladele, raised the concerns during a stakeholders’ meeting with healthcare workers and community representatives in Osogbo.
Oladele explained that health officials had encountered difficulties tracking some tuberculosis patients in Atakunmosa West and Atakunmosa East Local Government Areas, where mining activities attract migrant workers.
According to him, some miners diagnosed with the disease moved out of their communities before they could be placed on treatment, making it difficult for health authorities to monitor their condition.
“From experience, we had a group of northerners in one of the local governments — Atakunmosa West and Atakunmosa East. You know, we have miners there. We diagnosed them, but before we could commence treatment, we discovered that they had migrated again to an unknown place.
“So, it is affecting us. For some of them, they might be on drugs, or they may have just been diagnosed in the North. They just disappear and then reappear here. It is affecting the spread.”
The health official further warned that patients who stop taking their tuberculosis medication before completing the prescribed period could continue infecting people in their new locations.
“Once you are on tuberculosis treatment and you have not completed it, and you do not use the drug as prescribed by the doctors or by the programme, then there will not be the expected outcome.
“The individual will keep spreading the disease anywhere he goes,” he said.
Oladele urged journalists and media organisations to help educate residents about tuberculosis, stressing the importance of early testing and proper medical care.
The Osun State TB Network Coordinator, Joseph Abioye, said the meeting was organised to strengthen cooperation between healthcare providers and communities in tackling drug-resistant tuberculosis.
He explained that discussions centred on the difficulties faced by health workers, the experiences of affected communities and ways to improve support for patients.
Abioye also disclosed that the state regularly reviews tuberculosis records with local government representatives and partner organisations to ensure accurate tracking of cases.
“I can boldly say we have data, as we always do our monthly data harmonisation, which cuts across the partners in the state, the local government supervisors at the local government level, and also the State TB programme team. We all come together as one and then collate and validate our data before we can say this is what we have,” he said.
He noted that the records cover suspected cases, patients receiving treatment, individuals diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis and people assisting patients throughout their recovery process.
Despite acknowledging the contributions of government agencies and health partners, the coordinator said additional funding and support were necessary to expand tuberculosis control efforts.
“We are trying our best, but our best is not enough. That is the main reason we call for support from philanthropists. This time around, I won’t say from government alone again,” he said.
Abioye appealed to philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to support tuberculosis patients and invest in community health programmes to help reduce the disease burden across Osun State.
“I want to call on individuals who want to make a positive impact in the community. Our TB unit is also an area to invest their resources to support people living with tuberculosis, so that we can be able to eradicate tuberculosis in Osun State,” Abioye added.