By Blessing Odega

Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, says the state has 611 out of the 1,470 health facilities that offer integrated Tuberculosis (TB) control services.

Ba’amlong said this at the news conference to commemorate the 2025 World Tuberculosis Day themed “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest Deliver” in Jos on Monday.

He said that 231 of the facilities that offered the TB integrated services were private health facilities, while 380 were public health facilities.

The commissioner recalled that in 2024, out of the estimated 11,245 forms of TB cases in the state, only 5,820 of the cases were diagnosed, while 5,425 cases were missing (undiagnosed).

According to him, a TB patient who is not diagnosed and placed on treatment is capable of infecting 10 to 15 persons annually.

Ba’amlong, said that the diagnosis and treatment of TB were absolutely free of charge and persons who experience persistent cough for over two weeks, night sweats and weight loss should avail themselves for testing.

He advocated funding support from well spirited individuals and organisations to help eradicate TB by 2030.

The commissioner also appealed to the media, religious bodies, community leaders to create more awareness on TB and make referrals of presumptive cases for diagnosis and treatment which are free of charge.

He thanked Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for prioritising efforts towards ending TB in the state.

The commissioner also thanked the various health implementing partners in the state for their contributions in making the state TB free. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab