What Nigeria is doing to end Tuberculosis – Oluremi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Woman, Oluremi Tinubu, has stated the federal authorities is increasing therapy centres for tuberculosis (TB) throughout Nigeria as a part of efforts to remove the infectious illness.

Mrs Tinubu, whereas talking at a group outreach in Sauka, Abuja, on Monday to commemorate the 2025 World TB Day, famous that the federal government can also be strengthening community-based healthcare programs to achieve essentially the most weak populations.

She stated increasing TB testing and therapy centres nationwide will be certain that TB therapy stays free and accessible to all.

She added that the federal government can also be enhancing funding and partnerships to scale up TB management programmes amid dwindling donor funding.

She stated past being a illness, TB is a nationwide emergency that must be addressed urgently as a result of it’s preventable and curable.

“The statistics from the World Well being Organisation’s 2024 International TB Report are alarming. In Nigeria, one particular person dies of TB each seven minutes,” she stated.

“Because of this within the brief time we are going to spend at this occasion, many extra lives will likely be misplaced if we don’t act swiftly and decisively.”

She lamented that regardless of TB being preventable and curable, Nigeria stays one of many prime eight international locations with the best burden of TB worldwide.

“It’s unacceptable that so lots of our brothers and sisters nonetheless undergo from this illness in silence on account of stigma, lack of information, and ignorance of not visiting a healthcare facility on time,” she stated.

World TB Day

World TB Day is commemorated on 24 March yearly to lift consciousness of TB and to mobilise efforts, together with political dedication to sources and healthcare financing in direction of TB elimination.

This 12 months’s theme is “Sure! We will finish TB: Commit, make investments, and ship.”

TB, an airborne illness attributable to a bacterium (mycobacterium tuberculosis), principally impacts the lungs. It’s the second deadliest infectious killer illness (after COVID-19) and among the many prime 10 causes of loss of life worldwide.

Globally, and in line with the 2024 WHO world TB report, an estimated 10.8 million folks developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million folks dropping their lives and 12 per cent of the worldwide burden affecting essentially the most weak – the kids and younger adolescents.

TB stays a number one reason behind loss of life in Nigeria, with the nation rating sixth globally and first in Africa.

Collective dedication

Mrs Tinubu said that the federal authorities is dedicated to eradicating TB by strategic diagnostics, therapy, and prevention investments.

The First Woman referred to as for collective dedication and elevated funding to deal with TB within the nation.

She urged conventional and spiritual leaders, legislators, the youth, healthcare employees, non-public sector organisations, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, and worldwide companions to affix the battle towards TB.

Because the International and Nationwide Cease TB Champion, she reaffirmed her dedication to tackling TB by advocating for extra funding, coverage reforms, and useful resource mobilisation to help TB consciousness and therapy.

She additionally pledged to amplify the voices of TB survivors, fight stigma and discrimination, and guarantee equal entry to TB care for girls, kids, and marginalised teams.

“I encourage each Nigerian to affix on this battle. TB is curable, and early detection saves lives. Allow us to work collectively to take away the stigma surrounding TB, encourage testing, and help these affected,” she stated.

“TB is airborne, and since it’s contagious, I urge each one in all us to get examined, know your TB standing, and encourage your family members to do the identical. If in case you have a persistent cough for greater than two weeks, don’t ignore it however slightly search medical assist instantly.”

Talking on the occasion, the Performing Board Chair of Cease TB Partnership Nigeria, Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, famous that TB is a critical well being concern, particularly in distant communities, the place many individuals could not have entry to TB prognosis and therapy.

Mrs Ogbuji-Ladipo stated TB is preventable and curable, and therapy is free in authorities amenities.

“Right now’s group outreach goals to convey TB data and companies nearer to the residents of Sauka group in order that nobody is left behind within the battle towards TB,” she stated.

“It’ll additionally present platforms for them to study TB, ask questions, get examined, and assist unfold the message that TB may be defeated.”

She highlighted that the Cease TB partnership has made important progress by sturdy advocacy and collaboration with varied stakeholders.

A public well being problem

On the occasion, the Minister of State for Well being and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, emphasised that TB stays a serious public well being problem in Nigeria.

Mr Salako stated in 2023, an estimated 499,000 Nigerians developed TB, primarily affecting the productive age group (25–44 years), resulting in financial hardships.

He stated the state of affairs is worsened by stigma, poverty, malnutrition, overcrowded residing circumstances, and restricted entry to high quality healthcare.

He famous that regardless of challenges, Nigeria has made important progress in TB eradication by WHO-recommended methods.

The WHO Nation Consultant in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, pledged the organisation’s dedication to accelerating the TB response, which was guided by its newest pointers.

Mr Mulombo stated “We are going to proceed to work with our companions and step up motion in direction of mobilising the wanted home and worldwide sources required for ending TB in Nigeria.”