The Kaduna State Government said on Friday that it detects about 4,000 tuberculosis cases every year.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Dogo, announced this at a news conference in Kaduna to mark the World Tuberculosis Day.

Dogo said the 4,000 TB cases detected yearly represented about 90 per cent of those who were successfully treated and cured in the state.

He said the state would soon take new measures to increase public awareness on the fight against the spread of the disease.

Dogo added that the sum of 20 million had been approved by the Governor for the promotion of the Tuberculosis programme in the state.

According to him, the treatment centres in the state have been increased to 269, with about 84 laboratory or diagnostic centres.

“We have also included some private health facilities and faith-based health centres.”

The commissioner added that the state was currently piloting house-to-house TB case findings.

This, he said “will enable health workers move from house-to-house to collect samples from individuals and taking them to hospital for test and putting those that have TB on treatment in the comfort of their homes.”

He said the state tuberculosis control programme was one of the best performing in the country, so much so that in any new innovation in TB control, Kaduna State is usually included.

Dogo stressed that both the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis were free of charge.

He called on people coughing to go to a hospital, for testing and treatment.

The commissioner also encouraged people not to cough in the open, without covering their mouths with tissue paper.

“Do not spit on the ground without covering it and learn to open windows and doors in crowded areas.” (NAN)