As the world marks Tuberculosis Day on Sunday, students of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin under the aegis of ‘One Health Initiative,’ at the weekend took sensitisation rally on Tuberculosis to motor parks, markets and streets of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The students who carried banner and placards with different inscriptions distributed flyers conveying messages on the causes, prevention and management of Tuberculosis were at Maraba motor park and Ipata market.
A 500 level student of Veterinary Medicine, Miss Medinat Abdulkareem underscored the importance of the campaign and enjoined any individual with persistent cough to visit health facilities for check-up and treatment.
She further explained that the most common symptom of Tuberculosis is persistent cough lasting two weeks or more which is accompanied by fever, night sweat, weight loss, chest pain, loss of appetite, coughing up of blood mixed with sputum and tiredness.
Abdulkareem added that the spread of TB could be attributed to poor hygienic conditions, indiscriminate spitting of sputum and poor cough etiquette and smoking.
Also speaking, another student, Michael Ogunyemi identified Tuberculosis as a deadly disease with 10,000 cases in Nigeria yearly.
Ogunyemi explained that the purpose of the rally was to sensitise members of the public on the adverse effect of Tuberculosis, its management and prevention.
Speaking in the same vein, Miss Lateefat Folohunso thanked the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari for championing campaign against the spread of Tuberculosis in Nigeria and encouraged relevant organisations to support in reducing the scourge of Tuberculosis in the country.
Every 24th of March is dedicated as World Tuberculosis Day and this year’s campaign is tagged: “Its time to end TB”
