ABUJA – The Wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2035, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and innovation in tackling the country’s TB burden.
Speaking at the 2024 National TB Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, themed “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria,” Sen. Tinubu commended stakeholders for their efforts but urged for sustained commitment to achieving global TB targets.
“Nigeria remains the country with the highest TB burden in Africa and ranks sixth globally. According to the 2024 WHO Global Tuberculosis Report, Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in 2023, underscoring the urgency of our collective fight against this disease,” she stated.
Despite these grim statistics, Sen. Tinubu lauded progress in diagnosing and treating TB, attributing it to the commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, civil society organizations, and international partners like USAID and the Global Fund.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Sen. Tinubu reaffirmed her dedication to eradicating TB, announcing that her earlier donation had been utilized to procure diagnostic tools, boosting case detection. “The solution to ending TB lies in the strength of our partnerships public and private and the integrated delivery of services that leave no one behind,” she said.
She also emphasized the significance of the conference as a platform to share knowledge, develop strategies, and renew commitment to the fight against TB. “Together, united in purpose, we can and will end TB in Nigeria,” she concluded, calling for sustained investment, innovation, and community involvement to achieve a TB-free Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare emphasized the urgent need for unity and collaboration in the fight against tuberculosis (TB). Addressing stakeholders, the minister highlighted the nation’s commitment to leveraging health as a unifying force under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership. “Health touches every one of us,” the minister stated, urging stakeholders to see TB elimination as a collective mission.
He added that a major highlight of the conference was the innovative Private Sector TB Initiative, launched in July 2024. This partnership, spearheaded by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, has mobilized up to $25 million from private sector organizations to strengthen TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The Coordinating Minister underscored the importance of integrating TB control into workplace health programs and health insurance, noting the critical role of industries like banking, oil and gas, and telecommunications.
He commended the First Lady, a global and national TB Ambassador for her leadership in galvanizing efforts to combat TB. Her symbolic contribution of ₦1 million to the fight against TB was lauded as a call to shared responsibility. “Your Excellency, your dedication has inspired countless individuals and organizations,” the minister remarked, urging all stakeholders to follow her example of commitment and action.
The minister called on governments, development partners, private sector actors, and civil society to adopt a multisectoral approach to TB control. He emphasized the importance of increasing domestic funding, fostering accountability, and learning from global best practices. “Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a TB-free Nigeria,” the minister urged. The conference served as a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and strengthened resolve to eliminate TB by 2030.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Nigeria in his good will message hinted that, Nigeria has made significant progress in controlling tuberculosis (TB), with a 50% reduction in TB-related deaths between 2015 and 2023, Mulombo commended Nigeria’s efforts, citing innovative approaches and collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and partners.
Despite progress, Mulombo cautioned against complacency, highlighting persistent challenges, including a 60% funding gap in 2023, rising multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), and socio-economic barriers to care. He emphasized the need for bold and inclusive strategies, strengthened primary healthcare, next-generation diagnostics, and addressing social determinants like poverty and malnutrition.
Mulombo urged stakeholders to adopt evidence-based, community-led interventions and prioritize domestic funding to transform Nigeria’s TB response. With only six years left to achieve the 2030 global target of ending the TB epidemic, he reiterated WHO’s commitment to continued technical support and advocacy, ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against TB.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria , Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo said the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, in collaboration with the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), has inaugurated the National TB Conference 2024, under the theme “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria.” This pivotal event, held in Abuja, underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing tuberculosis (TB), a major global health challenge. It also marks Nigeria’s commitment to advancing inclusive, gender-responsive, and rights-based TB interventions.
According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, Nigeria recorded over 360,000 TB cases in 2023, accounting for 70% of the country’s estimated TB burden. While Nigeria has achieved a 24% decline in TB incidence rates between 2015 and 2023, challenges persist due to limited funding, stigma, healthcare access barriers, and weak public-private collaboration. The conference serves as a platform to address these barriers, with an emphasis on equitable access to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for marginalized and vulnerable populations.
She added that ,the conference has brought together stakeholders from Nigeria and abroad to discuss innovative strategies for eliminating TB. Key supporters include the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, USAID, and other global health partners. Recognizing the strides made in TB control and the gaps that remain, organizers emphasize the role of integrated service delivery models in achieving sustainable progress. The three-day event aims to inspire actionable strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s response to TB and meeting global targets.
Read the full article here
