NAWOJ, Kaduna govt partner against Tuberculosis – Gobroadsheet
((Cross section of participants at one day workshop on Tuberculosis organized by NAWOJ in Kaduna on Monday))
//NAWOJ: Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna//
Worried by low level of awareness on deadly disease called Tuberculosis in the state, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kaduna state council is partnering with the Kaduna State government to embark on aggressive campaign against the contagious disease.
The campaign, according to the NAWOJ Chairperson in the state, Juliet Oyoyo became necessary owing to increase number of people suffering the ailment while several others could not survive the scourge.
Debunking the myth that transmission and acquisition of Tuberculosis is hereditary, A specialist with Kaduna State Ministry of Health Dr. Julius Barnabas Gajera noted that it is not hereditary though it can be easily transmitted among family members because of their proximity to patients.
The Dr who made the clarification on Monday while making a presentation during a one day lecture on, ‘Tuberculosis, its dangers and preventive measures’ organized by the NAWOJ in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria said, “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”.
In attendance were Zonal Secretary of NAWOJ, Hajia Daharatu Muhammed, former state Chairperson, Hajia Farida Abubakar and cross section of female journalists from Northwest zone.