The permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Adeniran Ikuomola has said that treatment of TB in all government hospitals in the state is free while also urging the citizens of the state not to see Tuberculosis as a death sentence rather they should come out and get tested in order to have immediate access to free medical service for the disease.

Dr Ikuomola made this known during the commemoration of the World Tuberculosis day with a road walk to sensitize on the need to end tuberculosis in the state.

The programme was organized by the Ondo state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Damien Foundation, Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and APIN Public Health.

The year 2024 World TB day is themed “Yes! we can end TB” which is to raise awareness about the epidemic.

While addressing at the gathering at the premises of the Ondo State Ministry of Health in Akure, Dr Ikuomola noted that Tuberculosis was responsible for about 1.2 million death globally in 2022 while Nigeria notified about 282,184 cases in the same year which has made TB a major public health challenge.

He explained that the Ondo state government has continued to display unrivalled commitment by ensuring that TB detection increased tremendously with about 62 percent which he said was a result of the massive investment in human resources, health and infrastructure

He therefore called for collaboration among communities,civil society organization, academia and private sector in designing comprehensive, sustainable and lasting solutions to be able to put an end to tuberculosis while also urging them to mobilise people for testing saying TB treatment is available and free in all the government hospitals in the state.

The state coordinator of the World Health Organization, Dr Dele David emphasized in his goodwill message that ending TB was possible through high level leadership, increased investment, faster uptake of new WHO recommendation and adoption of innovations, accelerated actions and multisectoral collaboration.

The representative of Damien Foundation, Mrs Feyisara Adepoju also noted that their organization sought to promote public awareness of the disease’s health, social, and economic consequences, as well as to intensify efforts to eradicate the disease.

The representative of APIN public Health, Dr Oyelayo Babatunde said the scourge of TB was still unabated and a great commitment in funding, testing and collaboration would go a long way in stemming the tide of the disease

The representative of the Federal Ministries of Health, Dr. Folasade Idowu sought for increased and massive collaboration to end Tuberculosis in this age

The Project Manager for Ondo State Tuberculosis Mrs Foyinsola Olumagba appreciated all partners, Stakeholder, Civil Society Organization, Community based Organizations for working to put an end to Tuberculosis in Ondo state while urging more intense collaboration.