The Federal Government, with support from the Global Fund, has deployed 333 Truenat devices across the country in an effort to combat tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).

Mrs Rita Akpakpan, Head of Laboratory Services at the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP), disclosed this to newsmen on the side-lines of the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference on Thursday in Abuja.

Akpakpan said that the initiative was expected to transform TB diagnostics in peripheral and underserved areas, significantly boosting case detection rates and improving access to timely care.

“Nigeria accounts for 75 per cent of the global “missing TB cases” and 70 per cent of missing DR-TB cases due to limited access to rapid molecular testing in rural and remote areas.

“The Truenat system, developed by India-based Molbio Diagnostics, offers a portable, battery-operated, and solar-compatible solution designed for point-of-care testing,” she said.

She said that Truenat had proven to drastically reduce diagnostic turnaround times while increasing TB case detection rates.

“This deployment will enable NTBLCP to test an additional 8,000 people daily, or two million more annually, helping to curtail community transmission and ensuring early treatment, “she said.

According to her, the Truenat device stands out for its suitability in resource-limited settings.

“The device is compact, rugged, and dust-tolerant. It operates efficiently in temperatures of up to 40°C without air conditioning and has minimal biosafety issues.

“This makes it ideal for Nigeria’s remote and high-temperature regions,” she said.

She said that the system could detect TB and Rifampicin resistance by extracting, amplifying, and identifying specific genomic DNA, providing rapid and accurate results at the point of care.

Dr Emperor Ubochioma, the Programme Management Unit Team Lead, emphasised the transformative nature of the initiative:

“This deployment empowers our healthcare system with advanced diagnostic tools that reach hard-to-reach areas.

“We are confident that this will significantly improve TB detection rates and treatment outcomes, reducing the burden of TB in our country,” he said.

He said that to ensure seamless implementation, Molbio Diagnostics and NTBLCP were conducting nationwide training sessions for end users, alongside the installation of the devices.

Mr Sriram Natarajan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Molbio Diagnostics, highlighted the significance of this effort:

“The deployment of 333 Truenat devices in Nigeria marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative diagnostic solutions to underserved regions.

“We are committed to supporting Nigeria in its fight against TB and improving public health outcomes.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged students of the Junior Course 98 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to be enterprising, diligent and resourceful.

Oluyede gave the charge while addressing the students at their regimental dinner night on Wednesday in Jaji, Kaduna State.

According to him, possessing the attributes will enable them build successfully on their career and personal lives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner night is one of the major events lined up for the graduation of the students on Friday.

Oluyede said the objective of the college was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers to prepare them for staff and command appointments.

He said the officers in the last 23 weeks had learnt some vital concepts like counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, estimate process and manoeuvring approach to warfare and peace support operations.

“It is also gratifying that you learnt the rudiments of time management, perseverance, determination, team spirit, staff work, and self-confidence and most importantly, discipline while on this course.

“Your leadership, dedication and ability to inspire and guide your teams are essential to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.

”As junior leaders, you must be able to inspire confidence in subordinates and not lead through intimidation or be overtly coercive.

“Your impact significantly contributes to the overall plan and objectives at the operational and strategic levels, “he said.

The army chief congratulated the students on the successful completion of their course

NAN reports that prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves

The Nigerian Navy says it will undertake extensive rehabilitation of abandoned accommodation facilities across its formations nationwide in 2025.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this during the inauguration of newly refurbished accommodation buildings at the Headquarters of the Naval Training Command (HQ NAVTRAC) on Wednesday in Ebube-Eleme, Rivers.

The completed projects include two blocks of 94-room apartments built for Ratings at HQ NAVTRAC, as well as a block of 56 one-bedroom flats for Junior Ratings at the Nigerian Navy Barracks in Borikiri.

Others are the HQ NAVTRAC Command Officer’s Mess and a newly constructed Command Training House located in the New Government Reserve Area in Port Harcourt.

Ogalla revealed that the navy would rehabilitate additional abandoned accommodation buildings and upgrade existing facilities in order to address the accommodation deficit faced by personnel across naval formations nationwide.

“The navy places a high values on the welfare of its personnel; understanding that human resources are the most critical component of our operations.

“As such, we have directed our commands nationwide to rehabilitate all accommodation facilities within their bases, ensuring that we can house personnel currently residing outside the barracks.

“We are pleased to commission these projects, including the 56 one-bedroom block structure, which will provide housing for at least 56 families.”

The navy chief expressed optimism regarding the completion of three additional blocks of living quarters within the command in 2025.

“We will continue to rehabilitate and repurpose abandoned accommodations to address the serious shortage of housing for personnel.

“Our resources are being channelled towards ensuring that every facility capable of rehabilitation is restored, alongside the construction of new housing in Port Harcourt and other locations,” he said.

Ogalla commended the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NACTRAC, Rear Adm. Istafanus Albara, and his team for successfully completing the projects.

He encouraged other officers to emulate Albara’s dedication in carrying out his task.

Earlier, Albara expressed gratitude to Ogalla for relocating the NAVTRAC headquarters from Lagos to Ebubu-Eleme, Rivers, in May 2024.

He highlighted the substantial progress made in infrastructural development at the base since the relocation.

“The previously dilapidated facility handed over to the Nigerian Navy has gradually been transformed into a serene naval base; a feat made possible by the unwavering support of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Ogalla.

“These projects were executed through the direct labour of navy personnel, showcasing the CNS’s commitment to human capital development within the navy.

“This transformation has boosted morale and confidence among personnel while enhancing their resource management skills,” Albara concluded.