Writing by ABDULLAHI JALALUDDEEN; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Kano State Government- KSNG has launched a fleet of motorbikes to enhance grassroots screening for tuberculosis (TB), as part of efforts to curb the spread of the infectious disease across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, stated this during an event marking World Tuberculosis Day, commemorated every year on March 24.
He said the initiative is designed to take testing services directly into hard-to-reach communities.
According to Dr. Yusuf, Kano currently has about 1,391 TB testing and treatment centres spread across all 44 local government areas.
He explained that the newly introduced motorbikes would help bridge access gaps by reaching remote settlements, particularly where residents are far from established healthcare facilities or where emergency response is limited.
He maintained that treatment for tuberculosis, including all prescribed medications, remains completely free of charge for patients throughout the six-month treatment period, in line with the state’s public health policy on TB control.
Dr. Yusuf further noted that the State has continued to record steady progress in reducing the burden of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases that pose significant threats to public health.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and expanding access to essential healthcare services across Kano State.