The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health reported that in 2023, 7,345 residents contracted tuberculosis. Dr. Gaza Gwamna, the State Commissioner for Health, announced this in Lafia during a press conference marking World Tuberculosis Day 2024, themed “Yes, we can end TB.”
He revealed that the infections were spread across all 13 Local Government Areas, with 21 percent of those affected also suffering from HIV co-infection.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Damina John, Gwamna stressed the urgency of implementing effective measures to prevent the disease from becoming a significant threat to the state’s population.
He said, “Nasarawa State detected 7,345 TB cases in the year 2023; 21 per cent of whom are co-infected with HIV. This number is quite higher than that of the previous year, 2022, which was 5,445 with 18 per cent co-infection with HIV.
“This shows that TB is still prevalent in the state. There is a need, therefore, to intensify our efforts in the fight against this menace.
“The contribution by some of the LGAs to the figure recorded in the year 2023 are as follows: Awe LGA – 179; Obi LGA – 350; Wamba LGA – 178; Nassarawa Eggon LGA – 682; Nassarawa LGA – 1,846; Toto LGA – 143, among others.”