The Initiative for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (IPCD) in partnership with the Damien Foundation Belgium (DFB) and Lagos State TB Programme conducted screening for TB among community members of  Market Street, Oyingbo – Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State on 14 September 2021. Oyingbo is a densely populated community that is comprised of 60% artisans. The exercise offered the NGO the opportunity to educate community members on the mode of transmission of TB, TB preventive measures and how to live a healthy and fulfilled life when infected with the bacteria.

The screening exercise was carried out with the aid of a mobile van that is equipped with an X-ray machine. The President of IPCD was on ground to provide technical assistance, coordinate field activities and ensure the team followed standard guidelines on screening persons for TB. Chest X-ray was done for all community members that participated in the screening exercise. Sputum samples of community members with symptoms of TB were collected and transported to designated laboratories for TB testing. The NGO also provided free treatment to community members with various health conditions.

A total of 110 community members were screened for TB. From those screened, 10 persons that had symptoms of TB had their sputum specimens collected and examined in the lab. One of these persons were found to have TB and was immediately started on treatment.