Fighting Childhood Tuberculosis: A Week of Impact and Outreach

Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC), with support from Stop TB Partnership/UNOPS, in collaboration with the FCT and Lagos State TB Programs and other partners, embarked on a transformative journey to combat childhood tuberculosis in Nigeria. This was done to aid the efforts of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) in addressing the prevalence of childhood TB in Nigeria. This initiative was part of the National Childhood TB Testing Week, aimed at orienting and sensitising individuals and their close contacts about TB treatment adherence, their rights, and the importance of TB Preventive Therapy (TPT), especially for children.

From May 27 to 31 2024, DHDC provided assistance in conducting screenings, as well as awareness and sensitisation campaigns across nine schools, six communities, and one Motherless Babies' Home in the FCT, and five facilities in five local governments in Lagos State. Below is a list of outreaches conducted in the FCT.

• Chika Primary and Junior School, Lugbe
• Mabuchi Primary School
• Kado Kuchi Secondary School
• LEA Primary School, Durumi II
• LEA Primary School, Kuchingoro
• LEA Primary School, Jabi
• Bismart Memorial School, Durumi II

• Berger Camp, Kubwa
• Gwako I and II
• Barangoni Community
• Jahi II
• Durumi Village

The campaign kicked off with a flag-off event at the Chief Palace in Durumi 1 community, Abuja, with several partners and organisations in attendance, including the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), and others.

The campaign kicked off with a flag-off event at the Chief Palace in Durumi 1 community, Abuja, with several partners and organisations in attendance, including the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), and others.

Throughout the week, our dedicated volunteers and healthcare professionals engaged tirelessly within communities and schools, spreading awareness about TB among children and their caregivers. Interactive sessions were conducted to educate attendees on TB signs and symptoms, ways that the disease is spread, preventive measures including TB treatment for close contacts of people on treatment. Through these efforts, we empowered communities with the knowledge required to identify TB early and seek timely medical assistance.

A cornerstone of our initiative was the TB screening camps set up in targeted areas across Lagos and the FCT where a total of 2248 children and 815 adults were screened for TB symptoms. These screenings were crucial in identifying presumptive TB cases, which are instances where symptoms suggest potential TB infection.

For people identified with presumptive TB, swift action was taken to ensure immediate referrals to healthcare facilities equipped to confirm the diagnosis.

As we reflect on the National Childhood TB Testing Week, we celebrate the tangible impact achieved in just five days. All 6 confirmed TB cases are now receiving the necessary attention, thus preventing the spread of this disease, and ensuring healthier futures for children and adults alike.

We would be remiss if we failed to recognise the invaluable support of the Lagos and FCT state TB Programs, our esteemed partners, and all local communities. as none of this would have been possible without them. Together, we rallied around the cause of eradicating TB in Nigeria, fostering a sense of collective responsibility towards better health outcomes for our children.

Our journey, however, does not end here. Armed with the lessons learned and the momentum gained, we are more committed than ever to expanding our reach and intensifying our efforts against childhood TB. Every child deserves a healthy start in life, free from the threat of tuberculosis.

In conclusion, the success of this week-long event serves as a testament to what can be accomplished through collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision for a healthier tomorrow. Together, we can, and will win the fight against tuberculosis.

We call upon all stakeholders, as well as the general public, to join us in our mission. Together, we can create a world where no child's health is compromised by tuberculosis.

1. TB testing and treatment are free in Nigeria.
2. Coughing for two weeks or more, call 3340.
3. Once a person is on treatment and taking their medications accordingly, they can no longer spread the disease; therefore, there is no need to stigmatize them; instead, support them to continue and complete their treatment.
4. There is a TB preventive treatment used to prevent TB, protecting close contacts of TB patients from getting the disease.
5. For more information, download the OneImpact Nigeria App now for FREE (on Play Store for Android users: http://shorturl.at/bz139 OR on the App Store for iPhone users: http://shorturl.at/qCFTW) or type the keyword OneImpact Nigeria on your phone's application store search bar and click on the install button next to the OneImpact Nigeria app.

For questions or more information, you can visit the DHDC website at www.dhdc.org.ng