By Hassan Zaggi
The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has expressed its determination to end Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria.
The Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, stated this during the 2024 Pre-World TB day press conference in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The 2024 World TB Day is with the theme: Yes! We can end TB and with the Slogan: No gree for TB, check am o!
Dr. Anyaike reiterated that the federal government is passionate about improving TB care and control in Nigeria.
Represented by the Director and National Coordinator National TB and Leprosy Control Programe (NTBLCP), Dr Labaran Shehu, Dr. Anyaike noted that the stakeholders are also determined to reduce TB burden in Nigeria.
“We are grateful for all the support from all stakeholders in reducing TB issues in Nigeria. We will continue to ensure that enough sensitization is done on a regular basis,” he stressed.
On her part, the Acting Board Chairperson, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, lamented that, “TB continues to be a major public health concern, claiming far too many lives each year, particularly in Nigeria.
“Despite advancements in medicine and healthcare, TB remains a formidable adversary, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and underserved communities.”
She, however, expressed optimism that, “amidst these challenges, there lies hope in the tireless dedication of healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates who work tirelessly to combat TB and improve the lives of those affected.”
Ogbuji-Ladipo, therefore, urged all stakeholders to “lend your voices to this crucial cause, to join hands in solidarity, and to advocate for policies and actions that prioritize TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Together, we can make a difference, Yes We Can End TB!”
Speaking, the Executive Director, KNCV Nigeria, Dr. Bethrand Odume, reiterated that this year’ theme is a continuation of last year’s World TB Day theme which brings attention to TB and the collective power to achieve the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB Political Declaration targets which will put the world on course to end TB by 2030.
According to him: “It brings hope and builds on the amazing work done in 2023 by many TB High Burden Countries and TB Champions around the world who continue to make incredible strides to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing access to TB treatment and prevention.
“We are working with the NTBLCP and state TB program in the 14 supported states to improve TB case detection in Nigeria under the USAID-supported TB LON project.
“The time to accelerate all efforts towards ending TB is now more than ever before. We all need to sustain the progress we have made in recent years in finding the missing TB cases, by scaling up key proven strategies while sustaining advocacy efforts to improve funding from the government and the private sector.”
