The Rivers State Government in collaboration with its partners, including 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 tracking and treatment of the disease.
The state Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, while presenting the motorcycles to the health officials in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday said it was to enable them to reach the hard-to-reach areas of the state and ultimately rid the state of tuberculosis.
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.
According to her, “Tuberculosis is one of those notorious infections which have been ravaging countries across the world, especially low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria.
“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 the deputies to go into the nooks and crannies of our communities to identify those who may be infected and put them on the treatment that they need”, she said.
The commissioner expressed happiness that the efforts of the State Tuberculosis Treatment Programme have yielded significant results over the years.
