The First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has said that Nigerians must remain united toward achieving the end TB global target by 2035.
Mrs. Tinubu stated this in her remarks at the just concluded National TB Conference, organised by the Stop Partnership Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other partners in Abuja, adding that Nigeria can not be complacent in it figth to end TB scourge.
According to World Health Organization (WHO)World Tuberculosis Report of 2024, an estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million people losing their lives, and 12% of the global burden affecting the most vulnerable – the children and young adolescents.
This report shows that tuberculosis is still a leading cause of death in Nigeria. This is as the country ranks as the sixth highest burden country across the world and first in Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 also reveals that Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in 2023.
Speaking to the theme of the conference, The Conference themed, “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria”, Tinubu noted that, despite challenges, the commitment of the Tinubu administration, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, and international partners, have resulted in a steady increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB.
She however as acknowledge that there is much to be done.
“We can not afford to be complacent, and I assure you that the Federal Government remains fully committed to achieving the global TB targets by 2035.
“To achieve this, we will require sustained investment, innovative strategies, and a renewed focus on breaking the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care and support that they desperately need.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, the first lady reiterated her committment to the collective fight against TB, with a believe that the solution to ending TB lies in the strength of our partnerships both public and private, and in the integrated delivery of services that leave no one behind.
She urged participants to use the opportunity provided by the conference to recommit to the common goal of ending TB, stressing that the discussions, the partnerships, and the strategies that will emerge from the conference will serve as the foundation for the actions to be taken in the coming years.
World Health Organization’s (WHO) Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo in his goodwill, said the 2024 WHO Global TB Report identified Nigeria as one of the 13 countries estimated to have achieved a reduction of 50% or more in number of deaths caused by TB between 2015 and 2023.
He acknowledged the Government’s decisive action in 2024 to establish TB matching fund with the private sector, and described it as a clear demonstration of innovative thinking and a commitment to leveraging all available resources.
“By aligning public and private sector efforts, this partnership embodies a shared vision to ensure no one is left behind in accessing TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services.” He said.
The Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, noted that despite achieving a 24% decline in TB incidence rates between 2015 and 2023, Nigeria remains among the 30 high-burden countries that account for 87% of the world’s TB cases, including HIV-associated TB (TB/HIV) and drug-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB).
She stated that although there is significant progress achieved, there is a need for Nigeria to intensify efforts to improve TB detection, treatment, and prevention
to meet global targets for ending TB .
