“Yes, We Can End TB”: Benue state ramps up efforts to eradicate Tuberculosis on World TB Day

By James Ike

Benue State has joined the global community in commemorating this year’s World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, reaffirming its determination to eliminate the disease through awareness, early detection, and free treatment services.

The event, held in Makurdi, brought together health officials, community leaders, and residents in a bid to strengthen the fight against TB, which continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Kaior Akaangee, State Manager of the Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Program, said this year’s theme, “Yes, We Can End TB,” sends a clear message of hope and collective responsibility.

“Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable disease, yet it continues to affect thousands of people across Benue State and Nigeria,” Dr. Akaangee said. “Our target for this year is to detect and treat 15,000 TB cases, but so far, we have reached 10,170 individuals. This gap is concerning, and we must intensify our efforts to ensure no one is left behind.”

Continuing, Dr. Akaangee said, "every year on this day is celebrated as World TB Day in order to bring to our consciousness that tuberculosis is still existing among us and is being transmitted in our communities. In 2025 alone, 10,674 cases of TB were diagnosed in Benue State.

"Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries in the World where TB diseases is prevalent and 1st In Africa. More worrisome is the fact that drug-resistant TB cases is also on the rise. This has caused a strain on our budget in order to cater for the wellbeing of our dear citizens. Despite the cost, TB services are offered absolutely free globally in order to eliminate this disease.

"Other strategies employed include making TB services geographically accessible to all citizens of Nigeria. In 2025, 83 public health facilities were trained to ensure universal access to TB services.

"They have been trained to screen all persons accessing services in these facilities whether you come for TB screening or not.

"In 2024, some of our partners also trained private health facilities, Patent medicine vendors, stand-alone laboratories, traditional birth attendants, community pharmacists and other unconventional health settings in order to screen all persons accessing services at these places.

"Currently, we have about 1003 health care facilities offering free TB services This is to ensure that whether we have the resources to walk into a conventional health centre for care or not, TB services are offered to all citizens free of charge.

"We have also employed modern technology to aid TB case finding in communities. We have deployed five (5) portable digital X-rays (PDX) machines in our communities in order to screen everyone who has not had an opportunity to walk into a health facility to access TB services.

"This could be as a result of poverty or lack of awareness that the symptoms they are having may be caused by tuberculosis that has not been diagnosed. These X-ray machines though not enough; move from one community to other to ensure all persons are screened and if the disease is suspected, such a person is referred to a nearby diagnostic centre. 6 more PDX machines have been donated to the state and have been placed in facilities in the state for screening as well.

"We have also received 8 Truenat machines from the National TB program; another diagnostic platform to aid in the detection of TB diseases. All of these investments to end TB in the country are as a result of effective collaboration between the Federal and Benue State Governments, development and implementing partners, civil society organizations, philanthropists and others too numerous to mention.

"We also have received 9 TB LAMP machines and we are still expecting other newer and easily operable and less costly but effective machines to ensure that every underserved community in the state has easy access to TB diagnosis at their door steps at no cost.

"We are overwhelmed with joy with the results achieved so far and as this year’s slogan suggest, “Yes, we can END TB”, through innovative and collaborative approaches.

"We appreciate the Federal Republic of Nigeria for all its support through the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Programme Officers and staff of State Ministry of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization, implementing partners in the state, Civil Society Organization and others too numerous to mention."

The celebration also included road show, interactive sessions for residents, where misconceptions about TB were addressed, and information on preventive measures was shared. Participants learned about maintaining good hygiene, proper nutrition, and adherence to treatment protocols—all key strategies in the fight against TB.