World Tuberculosis Day: Iyienu Mission Hospital Invites people for free Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment
By Uzo Ugwunze, Ojoto
The Iyienu Mission Hospital(IMH), Ogidi has called on any person whose cough has lasted for up to two weeks to come in for free Tuberculosis(TB) screening.
The call was made recently at IMH, Ogidi during a sensitization program as they joined others to celebrate World Tuberculosis Day(WTBD) saying that the government has provided free treatment for TB patients.
The Head of Clinical Services, IMH, Dr. Henry Obidinma said that the theme for 2020 WTBD is ‘It’s Time to end TB in Nigeria’ with a slogan ‘Check That Cough, Time No Dey.
According to Obidinma” with the COVID-19 pandemic which has coughing as one of its symptoms it is more important for people with a cough to visit a standard hospital for a test.
“The immunity of people is becoming low because of the unfriendly environment, people take cough as a normal thing which comes and goes but you really need to check that cough.
“The signs include Cough that has lasted for two weeks, Weight loss, Sweating, and Blood in the sputum. The test and treatment is free. Come for treatment to avoid infecting others”, said Obidinma.
Moreover, Officer In Charge of TB, IMH, Dr. Edith Ochuenwike said that the World Health Organization(WHO) slated every 24th March as WTBD to sensitize people on the importance of TB diagnosis and treatment.
“WHO has brought March 24 yearly to educate the masses on TB through Radio/TV programs, fliers&banners, sensitization of groups telling on the importance of diagnosis and accessing free full treatment.
“There are Ordinary TB and Drug-resistant TB. People indulge in self-denial claiming that Tb is not their potion thereby running into complications of Drug-Resistant TB”, lamented Ochuenwike.
Earlier in her teaching, Nurse Precious Okeke advised people to encourage any person who has coughed for more than two weeks to access IMH for free TB tests and treatment.
“People diagnosed with ordinary TB will undergo treatment for six months but if the person fails to complete his daily drugs it will degenerate to Drug-resistant TB which takes longer months to cure.
“Please encourage people with a cough to come for tests and treatment on time. If some get infected by someone with Drug-resistant TB he will be infected with Drug-resistant TB”, she said.
