Beyond the Call of Duty: A Life-Saving TB Detection Story

Mr. Effiong Asuquo Okon, a KNCV Nigeria ad hoc staff member, packed his bag and headed home after finishing work at around 4:00 PM. On his way, he noticed a distressed woman sitting by the roadside with her visibly weak son, Atabia, a 21-year-old from Oron Local Government. While many people passed by without stopping, Effiong couldn’t ignore what he saw. A quick look at the young man raised serious concern; his symptoms strongly indicated tuberculosis (TB).

Effiong gently spoke with the mother. She explained that her son had been relying on self-medication and native treatments for over six months with no improvement. Despite their efforts, his condition continued to worsen. Although the day was coming to an end, Effiong knew he could still do something to help.

Determined not to leave them helpless, he accompanied the family to General Hospital, Iquita Oron. There, he ensured a quality sputum sample was collected for TB diagnosis. The results confirmed his suspicion: Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria were present. Thanks to Effiong’s quick action, Atabia was promptly enrolled in the proper TB treatment. Today, the young man is responding well and gradually regaining his strength.

Reflecting on his experience, Atabia said:
“If Mr. Effiong hadn’t stopped to show concern, we would have continued searching aimlessly for solutions, using traditional medicine, and living in assumptions.”

He deeply appreciates Mr. Effiong and KNCV Nigeria for their ongoing support in strengthening the TB response and saving lives across communities in Nigeria.