An important milestone was reached in Akwa Ibom State as Civil Society Organization, Policy Alert, successfully obtained commitments from key stakeholders, including the State House of Assembly and government officials, to ensure that Tuberculosis treatment is specifically included in the upcoming 2025 budget.
This significant commitment was announced during a stakeholders’ roundtable discussion held in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. The event was organized in partnership with Palladium Group and received support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Tjah Bolton-Akpan, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, highlighted the initiative’s aim to advocate for the separate inclusion of Tuberculosis treatment in the Akwa Ibom budget. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the TB epidemic, especially as the disease already affects 3200 individuals in the state.
Mr. Faith Paulinus, representing Bolton-Akpan, mentioned the absence of Tuberculosis funding in the 2024 budget and stressed the importance of rectifying this gap in the upcoming 2025 budget. This served as the impetus for convening all relevant stakeholders for the roundtable discussion.
Edidiong Dickson, the Programme Officer at Policy Alert, called for increased funding for TB care in Akwa Ibom, particularly in the construction of specialized facilities. He highlighted the challenges of accommodating patients with different genders and drug-resistant TB strains in separate facilities, emphasizing the need for adequate resources.
Moses Essien, Chairman of the House Committee on Health at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, affirmed the legislature’s commitment to collaborating with organizations to combat the spread of TB. He underscored the necessity of enacting legislation to strengthen the fight against this infectious disease.
Victor Edet, representing the Commissioner for Finance, Linus Nkan, emphasized the procedural aspect of budgetary allocation, stating that TB funding must first be proposed by the relevant ministry, department, or agency. He highlighted the significance of incorporating TB-related expenditures into the budgeting process.
Dr. Arthur Igbemi reiterated the critical role of ministries and government departments in advocating for TB budgetary provisions. He stressed the need for thorough inclusion of TB-related expenses within governmental budgets, aligning with the organization’s advocacy efforts.
Overall, the dialogue-based advocacy approach adopted by Policy Alert received commendation for its alignment with Governor Umo Eno’s agenda for proactive and inclusive governance.