An exceptional gesture was made by the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, as she pledged N1 billion towards the battle against tuberculosis in Nigeria, aiming to eradicate the epidemic by 2030.
Following her appointment as the global and national Stop TB champion by the Global Stop TB Partnership, Tinubu announced the significant donation in Abuja.
State First Ladies across the nation were also honored with the title of Stop TB champions.
The World Health Organization identifies TB as an infectious disease caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) primarily affecting the lungs.
TB spreads through the air when individuals with lung TB cough, sneeze, or spit, with infection occurring by inhaling a minimal amount of germs.
In 2022, 1.3 million people died from TB globally, including 167,000 individuals with HIV. TB is the second leading infectious killer worldwide, ranking above HIV and AIDS.
Nigeria holds the sixth position globally and is the country with the highest TB burden in Africa.
During the event, Tinubu emphasized her commitment to ending TB by 2030, urging collective support for this cause.
Expressing the belief that ending TB by 2030 is feasible with the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, Tinubu acknowledged the progress made in the fight against TB and urged intensified actions to ensure universal access to quality TB diagnosis and treatment services.
Furthermore, she called on various entities including the government, legislators, private partners, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and communities to step up their efforts towards eradicating TB.
The Executive Director of the Global Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, lauded Nigeria’s endeavors in TB eradication, highlighting the country’s achievements and the need for sustained progress.
In her remarks, acting board chair of Stop TB Partnership, Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, emphasized the persistent challenge posed by TB despite advancements in healthcare, stressing the importance of immediate action to enhance TB detection, treatment, and prevention efforts.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, mentioned ongoing government initiatives to equip Primary Health Care facilities with necessary resources and personnel to enhance service delivery, particularly in underserved areas.
Pate detailed various measures being taken, such as the scaling up of TB treatment services and the implementation of innovative diagnostic technologies to improve TB screening and testing efficiency.
Taking an all-encompassing approach, the government is collaborating with the private sector and communities in the crusade to eliminate TB nationwide.