TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAM
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by any of the several species of Mycobacterium referred to as tubercle bacillus. Nigeria is currently ranked 3rd among the 22 highest-burdened countries in the world and the 1st in Africa. In Nigeria, Lagos State carries 8.4% of Nigeria’s TB burden and consistently has been responsible for about 11% of the cases of TB registered in Nigeria. The TB control programme is focused on case detection and successful treatment. To make these possible, TB diagnostic and treatment services are made available to all who need them.
The State programme is implementing the internationally recommended strategy for TB control called the STOP TB STRATEGY.
The 6 components of the Stop TB Strategy are:
1. Pursue high-quality DOTS expansion and enhancement.
2. Address TB/HIV, Multi-Drug Resistant-TB and other challenges (e.g. congregate settings like prisons).
3. Contribute to health system strengthening.
4. Engage all care providers (PPM-DOTS).
5. Empower people with TB and Communities (Community DOTS).
6. Enable and promote research.
The programme commenced in earnest in January 2003 with 11 DOTS (TB treatment) centres in 6 LGAS. The DOTS strategy was then adopted, but this was changed to the current STOP TB STRATEGY in 2006.
The main focus of the TB Control Programme has been to ensure access to services through expansion to all the nooks and crannies of the State. By the year 2006, all 20 LGAs had at least one (1) DOTS centre. Presently, all 57 LGA/LCDAs are covered. As at the end of 2014, there are 315 DOTS centres in the State.Also, we have 85 TB microscopy centres and 9 GeneXpert sites.
The centres are made up of tertiary, secondary and primary health care facilities and include State and Federal government, Police, Prisons and Military establishments as well as private not-for-profit (missionary), private-for-profit and institution-based health institutions.
Key programme indicators relate to Case detection and Treatment outcomes and have in the State programme improved over time. The trend is as shown in below:
TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Number of DOTS centres 11 18 37 46 56 59 60 85 130 201 270 315
Number of Tuberculosis cases registered 4,307 6,551 7,414 8,690 9,680 9,933 9,682 6,438 8515 8455 9444 8976
Tuberculosis cure rate= number cured*100/number registered 64% 65% 63% 61.50% 63% 62.30% 66% 69% 74% 75% 76%
LEPROSY
The Leprosy control programme is focused on case detection and treatment. Drugs needed are provided free of charge to all patients. Diagnosis is based on the cardinal signs of SKIN PATCH with LOSS OF SENSATION.
The State programme, with support of Damien Foundation Belgium (DFB), an international non-governmental organization and one of our partners, has established a referral centre for Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease Centre) at Harvey road, Yabaand is to commence Leprosy Elimination Campaigns in various LGAs to further create awareness about the disease and identify more patients.
The trend of Leprosy case detection in the State is as shown below:
LEPROSY CASE-FINDING – LAGOS STATE
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Q1 11 15 2 9 8 4
Q2 8 19 7 6 7 9
Q3 12 6 3 3 7 14
Q4 6 6 6 16 1 4
Total 37 46 18 34 23 31
