Janna,an NGO visits Nomadic schools and communities in Adamawa for TB screening

A non governmental organization (NGO) ,Janna Health Foundation (JHF) with it’s corporate headquarters in Adamawa state on one of it’s mandate,carried out Tuberculosis (TB) free screenings to Nomad and many communities in the State.

The founder of the organization, Dr Steven John told our reporter that Janna together with TB Supervisors from different Local Government Areas (LGA) are in collaboration to see that TB is total eradicated in Adamawa and in the surface of the earth.

He revealed that JHF has an international recognition by the Global fund,an organization which is in fore front as the implementation partner of the strategic initiative funded the movements”stop the TB” in connection with the UNOPS.

According to John of recent the NGO had conducted an advocacy visits to communities in an effort to mobilize Nomadic schools and communities in the country,sentisizing them on how to avoid contacting TB disease and provide free drugs to screened persons who are discovered to be infected by the disease.

He revealed that the target population for the intervention is located in the Northern and Central Senatorial Zones of Adamawa State, which are made up of 12 LGAs with 61 functional Nomadic Schools and 76 Nomadic Communities.

According to him Nomadic Schools have been in existence for over a decade in Adamawa State, but no TB intervention had ever been implemented for this target group before.

“The innovations of this approach – which focuses on Nomadic schools and their immediate communities – include the engagement of Nomadic focal points, the selection of volunteers among Nomadic Pastoralists and the establishment of a link with designated GeneXpert diagnostic and treatment centers.

” Nomads are an important key population when searching for the missing people with TB because, due to their migrant nature and remote location, they have little to no access to health services. Their poorly ventilated housing and overcrowded living conditions also promote the transmission of TB.

“Moreover, the consumption of unpasteurized milk has caused a high documented rate of Bovine TB in the area. Other ailments that affect Nomads and for which they are being treated include malaria and skin infections.” John Said

Dr Steven further said that the low level of knowledge and awareness of TB among Nomads also fuels the transmission of TB; to address this issue, the population is being educated on the dangers of consuming unpasteurized milk, TB prevention and early detection.

“In the months of June and July, 2018, 14 Nomadic schools and 20 Nomadic communities were screened for TB (and HIV) in Adamawa State. Primary Health Authorities also provided Nomadic community members and school children with antihelminthics, antimalarials and multi-vitamins.

“A total of 7,155 Nomads were verbally screened and 673 people with presumptive TB were detected – 141 (21%) were children (0 – 14 years) out of which 88 (62%) were pupils from Nomadic schools. Sputum samples from 603 people were collected and transported for diagnosis and 29 children under 5 years old were transferred to the nearest secondary health facility for clinical evaluation by medical officers. A total of 22 people were diagnosed with TB.

“JHF has concluded the training and orientation of Health Care Workers and Volunteers from the target schools and Nomadic Communities. Community mobilization and active TB and HIV screening will continue in the next months.” He added

John said Monthly workplans for screenings in the target population have been submitted by 11 out of 12 LGAs most of which have already started the active screening of Nomadic Schools and Communities. Supervision and monitoring has begun to these LGAs. JHF expects that through their package of interventions many more of Nigeria’s missing people with TB will be found.