Skip to main content

U.S. Govt, Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative Partner In Fight Against Tuberculosis

The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR) on Tuesday, December 12, handed over 10 renovated Tuberculosis (TB) facilities and diagnostic equipment to the Government of Nigeria. 

These renovated facilities, located in Lagos, Anambra, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Bauchi and Katsina states, would provide life-saving services to patients for TB screening and treatment. 

This was contained in a statement issued by the US Mission in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the statement, Nigeria faces a significant health challenge with a triple burden of TB, drug-resistant TB, and HIV-associated TB, placing it among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of undetected TB cases globally. Ranking first in Africa and sixth worldwide, Nigeria accounts for 4.6 percent of the global TB burden. 

The country witnesses approximately 11 deaths every hour due to TB, amounting to nearly 264 deaths daily, over 8,160 monthly, and reaching 98,000 annually.

In 2022, USAID addressed Nigeria’s needs in TB care by accepting a $500,000 contribution from ASR Africa, focusing on TB control and gender-based violence. 

This contribution aligns with USAID’s broader $78million, five-year TB Local Organization Network Activity, aimed at detecting, treating, and reporting TB cases. Utilizing ASR Africa’s funds, USAID provided 11 TB Lamp diagnostic machines, along with laboratory supplies.  

ASR Africa renovated 10 Tuberculosis Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) centers; and distributed over 2,000 dignity kits to gender-based violence (GBV) survivors across seven selected Nigerian states, including Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, and Anambra.

The TB-LAMP diagnostic machines have enabled facilities to effectively diagnose TB and all individuals diagnosed with these machines have been placed on treatment for TB at the TB DOT centers renovated by ASR Africa.  

The contribution of dignity kits has also strengthened services for GBV survivors that are supported through USAID’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program.

USAID has partnered with the Government of Nigeria and private sector on the TB response since 2003. 

Through these efforts, USAID has contributed to a reduction in tuberculosis related deaths by nearly 50 percent.

Speaking at the newly renovated Akinyele Primary Health Center, in Alimosho, Lagos, USAID/Nigeria Deputy Director HIV/AIDS and TB Office, Omosalewa Oyelaran remarked, “This partnership demonstrates how the private sector holds immense potential to catalyze sustainable results. 

"USAID actively engages with private sector partners in Nigeria in the drive towards mobilizing resources to counter diseases of public concern such as TB and to improve quality of life among affected populations.”

ASR Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Ubon Udoh, also delivered remarks at today’s handover ceremony. 

Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of ASR Africa Abdul Samad Rabiu, Dr. Ubon Udoh, applauded the USAID team for their intervention and their partnership with the Government of Nigeria in the eradication of tuberculosis in the country. 

He noted that with the installation of the TB machines, over 22,100 samples have already been taken in all the centers combined, out of which confirmed positive cases are receiving expert treatment. 

Udoh reiterated the commitment of the Chairman of ASR Africa in investing resources towards tackling pressing developmental issues in health, education and social development in Africa.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stop Creating Enmity, It'll Hurt You, Gov Fubara Warns Partisan Police Officers •Donates 100 Vehicles To Cut Response Time To Emergencies

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised partisan police officers who abandon their core professional responsibilities to pursue vested political interests to know that the enmity they fuel and eventually create will hurt them in the long run. Governor Fubara maintained that police officers are engaged and trained as professionals to protect lives and property while contributing to the desired peace in the State as a patriotic duty. The Governor insisted that it is, therefore, an aberration for any of them to think that protecting any particular individual or being one-sided in the political affairs to the detriment of the State amounts to professionalism. Governor Fubara gave the advise at the inauguration and formal handover of 100 operational vehicles acquired by his administration to the Rivers State Police Command at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. The Governor said: "I need to say this, so that you will understand. When you (Disu) ca...
Post a Comment
Read more

Assembly Screens, Confirms Oko-Jaja, Seven Others For BoPP Board •Tasks Members On Rivers First Policy

Rivers State House of Assembly has screened and  confirmed Opobo-born Barrister Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, as Chairman of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBoPP). Also screened and confirmed were Dr. Ernest Ibekwe Ekwe; Dr. Mina Ogbanga; Engr. Iseleye Amachree; Engr. Adokiye Oyagiri; Engr. Gift Alex-Hart; Mrs. Grace Osaronu; and Barrister Selinah Amonieah, who will serve as members. The eight nominees had appeared for screening before the lawmakers shortly after the reading of the letter sent by the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, requesting the House to determine their suitability for appointment as members of the Board of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, read the letter by the Governor during plenary at the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly, Auditorium of the Administrative Block, Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, on Friday. The S...
Post a Comment
Read more

IWD: Fubara, Wife Extol Resilience, Creative Ingenuities Of Women

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and his wife Lady Valerie Fubara, have commended the extraordinary resilience and creative ingenuities of women and girls, which they said have helped propel sustainable development in the society. They made the remarks while congratulating women all over the world in celebration of the 2024 International Women's Day on Friday. Speaking in a statement digned by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Boniface Onyedi in Govetnment House, Port Harcourt, the governor described women as unique creations and formidable assets endowed with the grace and capacity to foster peace and development in society. He commended Rivers women for their unwavering support to his administration, and urged them not to rest on their oars but to continue praying for the peace of the state. The governor further urged the women to continue to play their motherly role to save  the society from moral decay and rot. Fubara, who highlighted the fundamental position ...
Post a Comment
Read more