Abuja, 24 September 2007 -- The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, as part of its support to the Government’s efforts to control Tuberculosis and Leprosy in the country has handed over three consignments of drugs and equipment procured through the support of USAID and Norvatis to the Federal Ministry of Health.

The consignments contain:

64 Binocular Olympus Microscopes, procured at a cost of $67,500 - for strengthening the laboratory diagnostic networks in the expansion of DOTS TB services to additional 64 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 17 states supported by USAID; 
39 cartons containing 22,464 adult MB anti-leprosy drugs, procured at a cost of $16,500 for the treatment of 2,000 leprosy patients; and
480,000 tablets of double Strength co-trimoxazole, procured at a cost of $20,000 for use as chemo-prophylaxis therapy against opportunistic infections in tuberculosis patients dually infected with HIV in 12 states supported by USAID.
Co-trimoxazole chemo-prophylaxix has become an essential component of TB/HIV collaborative activities, to reduce the impact of HIV on TB patients. At present in the country, about 37% of TB patients are dually infected, and would benefit from this support.

In his speech on the occasion, the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Peter Eriki noted that Nigeria was the 4th highest TB-burdened country in the world, with an estimated 380,000 cases of all forms of TB per annum. He emphasized that the Local Government service coverage is still about 84% (650 LGAs/774LGAs) and that the national case detection rate which had progressively increased to 30.3% in 2006, is still below the globally set target of 70%. 

He said there was need to continue to support the government to ensure accelerated progress towards meeting the global targets. He added that it was for this reason that WHO continues to support the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in preparation of strategic plans for scaling up of DOTS services and mobilizing resources for carrying out such activities. He advised that the microscopes should be judiciously utilized to expand DOTS services in the additional 64 LGAs in the 17 states supported by USAID. 

The Honourable Minster of Health, Professor Adenike Grange, in receiving the items from the WHO Representative, expressed sincere appreciation to the Organisation for the support and requested for further collaboration with her Ministry. She promised that the drugs and the microscopes would be forwarded to the identified States and project sites and that her Ministry would ensure their judicious utilisation.

The USAID Representative at the occasion, Dr Temitayo Odusote commended the collaboration between her Agency and the World Health Organisation in the support to the National Tuberculosis and TB/HIV Control Programme.  She mentioned that the support through the World Health Organisation, which started as far back as 2003 would continue and be further strengthened until the impact of Tuberculosis on the HIV programme and vice versa was lessened.

The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of several bilateral and multilateral organizations amongst which were the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), German Leprosy Relief Association (GLRA), the Netherlands Leprosy Relief Association (NLR), the Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), and various stakeholders supporting the tuberculosis and leprosy control programmes including the  Principal Recipient of the TB Global Fund Round 5, Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN).   

For more information, please contact:
Austine Oghide, HIP
WHO-Nigeria
Tel: 234  (0) 8034022390
E-mail: oghidea [at] ng.afro.who.inttarget="_blank" 
Website: http://www.who.int/countries/nga/en