The Federal Ministry of Health has said that the recent World Health Organisation (WHO) global report for 2012, estimated that 118 people out of every 100,000 Nigerians have tuberculosis with 17 people out of the 100,000 people likely to die of the disease.

Presenting a keynote address at the 2012-Annual Review meeting of the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with stakeholders in TB Control, in Ilorin, on Wednesday, a director in the ministry, Dr. Gabriel Akang, said Nigeria is one of the 22 countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis globally.

He also said that Nigeria is one of the countries that accounts for 80 per cent of all Tuberculosis cases in the world, adding that stakeholders should intensify efforts on control of the disease.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the state government was not resting on its oars, adding that it has put in place a Tuberculosis Centre in Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin to take care of those affected.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kayode Issa, said the state government has also acquired modern technology for the detection of the disease at its early stage.

He also stated that the state government has built an ultra-modern advanced diagnostic centre for detection and treatment of various ailments for Nigerians and people in Africa sub-region.

The governor also said that his administration gives priority attention to health care delivery system by ensuring that it gets a lion share of the budget.

He urged the participants at the meeting to ensure that they come out with fruitful deliberations that will assist in the control of the diseases.