Experts have called upon the federal government and other stakeholders to bolster investments aimed at eradicating tuberculosis (TB) across the nation by 2030.
This plea was voiced yesterday in Abuja during a pre-World TB Day press briefing organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, in collaboration with the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) and allied partners.
Dr Amos Omoniyi, the National Programme Officer for TB at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, highlighted that Nigeria presently constitutes 23 percent of TB fatalities in Africa. He underscored the alarming statistic that one individual succumbs to TB every five minutes within Nigeria alone, with 97,900 lives lost to the disease in 2022.
Identifying key hurdles in Nigeria’s TB combat, Dr Omoniyi pointed out the significant funding gap, reliance on external donors, inadequate treatment coverage, and insufficient detection of childhood TB cases. He stressed that with increased governmental investment at all administrative tiers, TB elimination is attainable.
Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, the Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, emphasised that despite medical and healthcare advancements, TB persists as a formidable adversary, disproportionately affecting vulnerable demographics and underserved communities.
Nonetheless, she expressed optimism in the relentless efforts of healthcare practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and advocates striving to mitigate TB’s impact and enhance the well-being of affected individuals.
