By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – The transmission and acquisition of Tuberculosis is said to be easily transmitted among family members because of their proximity to patients not through genetics as it is widely speculated.
A specialist with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health Dr. Julius Barnabas Gajera made the clarification on Monday while making a presentation during a one day lecture on, ‘Tuberculosis, its dangers and preventive measures’ organized by the Kaduna state chapter of the National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) in Kaduna.
According to him, “Tuberculosis (TB) is not a hereditary disease; however, members of the same family may be infected because of their closeness to the person infected,” adding that, the infection is transmitted from person to person through air.
He pointed out that only about 10% of infected people will develop TB at some point in their lives; and an individual could also be infected with TB for years without developing the disease.
He explained that, TB is a disease caused by a bacterium called Bacterium Mycobacterium which primarily affects the lungs; saying, one of its major symptoms is a cough that persisted for more than two weeks without responding to treatment.
“Symptoms of TB includes; Cough for two weeks or more (usually with sputum, can be blood stained), fever, night sweats, weight loss, lumps on neck, under arms and chest pains.
“People at risk are those close contacts of people with TB, staffs at the health care facilities, HIV-infected individual, person with diabetes, cancer and children especially under five years of age and the elderly.
While stressing that TB treatments are free in public hospitals, he advised that if an individual experience any of the symptoms, they should visit any health care facility for TB test which can be treated with correct drugs. “A patient must take all of the drugs for the entire time (usually six months) to be cured, but when a patient skips drugs, MDR-TB can develop (Drug resistant), and it could easily be spread to others and dead may occur,” he added.
In a remark, Vice president of NAWOJ Zone A, Zainab Shuibu Ringim, while commending the body for organizing the workshop said it is a milestone in the history of the Association in its drive towards the promotion of health at all levels.
She however called on government and private organization to collaborate with NAWOJ to promote health and developmental issues for the attainment of a healthy society.
Earlier in her welcoming address, Chairperson of the Kaduna state chapter of NAWOJ Mrs. Juliet Oyoyo, noted that the essence of the workshop was to enlighten members on how to safe guide themselves and most likely live with patients suffering from the disease without being exposed to the inherent dangers of getting infected as well as educating members of the public through their mediums.