Ogun urges miners to embrace free tuberculosis screening, treatment

The Ogun State Government has urged miners and other stakeholders in the mining sector to take advantage of the free tuberculosis (TB) screening and treatment being provided by the State Ministry of Health in partnership with the Facility Community-Based Service Delivery Support (FCBDS), citing their increased vulnerability to the disease due to occupational exposure.

Adeola Sofela, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, made the call during the Ministry’s quarterly meeting with stakeholders in the mining sector in Abeokuta.

Represented by Olalekan Eniolawun, the Director of Exploration and Mining, Sofela stressed the importance of early detection and treatment of tuberculosis, urging miners to prioritise their health by taking advantage of the free medical services.

“I urge all miners to take advantage of this opportunity. You can mobilise two or three mining crews and contact the Ministry of Health’s team for screening.

“As the Resource person explained, tuberculosis testing and treatment are completely free. Please make the most of this initiative and ensure that every miner working with you benefits from it. Take this message back to your communities and encourage others to get tested,” the Commissioner said.

Delivering a presentation on tuberculosis, the Community Focal Person, Facility Community-Based Service Delivery Support, Samuel Odunjo, described tuberculosis as an airborne infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis stating that Nigeria had the sixth-highest tuberculosis burden in the world, with an estimated 479,000 cases, including about 107,981 undiagnosed patients and approximately 12,000 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Odunjo warned that every untreated tuberculosis patient could transmit the disease to between 10 and 15 other people annually, underscoring the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

He explained that miners were particularly susceptible to tuberculosis because prolonged exposure to silica dust weakens the lungs and compromises the immune system, making them more vulnerable to infection.

According to him, regular screening remained one of the most effective ways of detecting the disease early and preventing its spread within mining communities assuring stakeholders that tuberculosis screening, diagnosis and treatment were provided free of charge, encouraging miners to utilise the opportunity without delay.

Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Mutiu Alade, commended the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for sustaining engagement with operators in the mining sector and addressing issues affecting their operations.

He also lauded the Ministry’s collaboration with the health sector in promoting awareness of tuberculosis among miners, describing the initiative as timely and essential to safeguarding the health and productivity of workers in the industry.