Mustapha Suleiman, Abuja
The Rivers state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health has presented 46 motorcycles to tuberculosis supervisors and their deputies in the 23 local government areas of the state to fast-track treatment of the disease.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, presented the motorcycles to the health officials in Port Harcourt, saying it was to enable them to tackle tuberculosis in the state.
Oreh further said the donation was geared towards ensuring that the state, which is currently ranked third in the country in tuberculosis eradication, gets to the first position.
She said that tuberculosis is an infection that is ravaging countries across the world, especially low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.
She said, “In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme with immense support from the Global Fund, we are here gathered with these 46 motorcycles which will be given to the 23 local government areas TB Supervisors and their Deputies.
“We know that at the forefront of tackling this deadly infectious disease is active community surveillance. These motorcycles will enable the TB supervisors and am confident that we (Rivers) will get to 100 per cent treatment success.”
The commissioner noted that the efforts of the State Tuberculosis Treatment Programme have yielded significant results over the years, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health has supported the efforts of the state government in eradicating tuberculosis in the country
