2024-03-24 20:40:50
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Like other countries, Niger celebrated World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2024. The theme chosen this year to celebrate the day is “YES!” We can end TB! “. It was an opportunity to raise awareness of the devastating health, social and economic consequences of this disease and to intensify action to end this global epidemic. On this occasion the Minister of Public Health, Population and Social Affairs, Doctor Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi delivered a message in which he indicated that the choice of theme symbolizes a message of hope.
“Indeed, yes, it is possible to roll back the TB epidemic, by mobilizing leaders at the highest levels, increasing investments, adopting innovations and engaging in multi-sector collaboration. This year 2024 is decisive for advancing the fight and freeing the world from this disease,” said the minister.
According to the WHO/2022 report, globally it is estimated that 10.6 million people developed the disease in 2021, an increase of 4.5% compared to 2020, and that 1.6 million people died from it. tuberculosis (including 187,000 among HIV-positive people). Concerning resistant tuberculosis, 450 thousand new cases were estimated in 2021. This form constitutes a threat to global health security. At the National Plan, underlined Doctor Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, tuberculosis is considered a priority public health problem. Its management is an integral part of the minimum package of health services activities. “This enabled the National Tuberculosis Control Program to record satisfactory results. Screening saw a clear increase from 14,646 cases reported in 2022 to 15,743 cases in 2023 for susceptible tuberculosis and 151 cases of resistant tuberculosis detected out of 120 expected cases,” he indicated.
There is a strong link between tuberculosis and HIV infection. For better management of co-infected cases, the two Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS programs work closely together with a formal consultation framework. The Minister in charge of Health indicated that regarding the results of treatment, there has been an improvement from year to year. Thus, the therapeutic success rate increased from 85% in 2022 to 86% in 2023 for a target of 85%. However, cases of death represent respectively 6.3% in 2022 and 6.5%) in 2023 for a target of less than 5%. The death rate among co-infected TB/HIV patients remains high at 16% in 2022 for a target of less than 5%. It should also be noted that 6,400 child contacts benefited from Isoniazid chemoprophylaxis in 2022, i.e. 85%, compared to 7,755 in 2023, i.e. 87%. Regarding Co-infected patients, 330 were screened compared to 345 in 2023, among whom 287 were put on antiretrovirals, i.e. 83%.
Concerning multi-resistant tuberculosis, treatment began in Niger in 2008 with the support of the NGO Action Damien. In 2023, some 151 cases of resistant tuberculosis detected out of 120 cases expected. The cure rate recorded here over the last 10 years was 83%. For global commitments aimed at ending tuberculosis and multisectoral accountability, the minister stressed that Niger put in place in 2021, a National Multisectoral Accountability Framework for the Fight against Tuberculosis, one of the missions of which is to strengthen actions in order to achieve Niger’s targets set at the High Summit of Heads of State in New York by the end of 2027. According to Doctor Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, the fight against tuberculosis benefits from significant government support, including free screening examinations for any patient suspected of tuberculosis as well as free care; strengthening the human and technical capacities of the program; and the allocation of the annual budget line for the purchase of medicines, reagents and consumables. He reaffirmed all the will of the authorities of the Republic and the President of the CNSP, Head of State. He finally thanked all the technical and financial partners who support our country in controlling this disease.
Oumarou Moussa (ONEP)
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