By Lucky Isibor
A group of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) led by Jay Jay Initiative for Empowerment and Development (JIED) have outlined strategies for the eradication of Tuberculosis in Edo State.
As part of that strategy JAID organised a step down training for the collaborating CBOs and CSOs in Benin City on Wednesday, 3 April on the use of Community Tuberculosis App and Website (CommTB App) for Community Tuberculosis Workers (CTW).
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of JAID, Felix Ekhator pointed out that the training is on the use of the CommTB Application online portal for the detection of Tuberculosis at the grassroot level.
While disclosing that the project is financed by the Global Fund and implemented by the Ideal Development Resource Centre (IDRC) in collaboration with Red Aid Nigeria and Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria; Ekhator disclosed that an onboarding training and training on the use of the Comm.TB App had earlier been conducted for the participating CSOs and CBOs, adding that the step down training is on the use of the Comm.TB App as a way of ensuring more participants from the grassroot are brought into the tuberculosis eradication project.
Acquainting the trainees on the rudiments of tuberculosis, Ekhator pointed out that “Tuberculosis is an air borne disease, it can be transmitted from one person to another through air; it can be treated when detected early and can only be detected through medical tests”.
While listing the symptoms to include caughing, sneezing, excessive sweeting at night, loose of weight and fever, Ekhator disclosed that both the testing and treatment of tuberculosis are free.
The trainees were taken through the practice of the use of the Comm.TB App by Ekhator and Miss Emmanuella Ugbesia, who represented IDCR at the training session using android phones.
The representative of IDCR, Miss Ugbesia assured participants that protective devices like hand gloves, face masks and sanitisers will be provided for them when they commence the community detection of Tuberculosis cases.
Having grasp the working of the online App, the participants have assured of their commitment to work with JAID and all the implementating partners in the tuberculosis eradication project.