Drug resistance increasing tuberculosis in Delta – Experts

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Drug resistance increasing tuberculosis in Delta – Experts

Some medical experts have identified low testing rate and drug resistance as part of the reasons for the tuberculosis surge in Delta State.

The Senior Programme Officer/ State Team Lead for KNCV Nigeria, Dr Emmanuel Ajumuka, said, “Patients manifesting TB symptoms in the state refused to submit sputum and stools for children for testing over fear of ritual. They said if they submit their children’s stool, we will use it for ritual purposes and for that reason they refused to submit the stool, and as a matter of fact, the TB is at high increase in the state.

“Another problem we are having in Delta State is that the diagnosed TB patients refused to continue with their drugs.”

He said about 10 machines for testing TB in the state were not being utilised, noting that treatment was free.

Speaking at the one-day workshop on tuberculosis, the Director, Public Health Department, state Ministry of Health, Dr Christian Tetsola, decried the alarming rate of symptoms of TB, while appealing to the public to join hands in the fight against it by utilising the facilities in the state.