The Society for Child Support and Economic Empowerment (SOCCEE) has urged urgent government action to address tuberculosis drug shortages in Kano State.
The group warned that shortages of TB medicines and diagnostic commodities could undermine efforts to control the disease.
SOCCEE Executive Director Sunusi Hashim made the call on Friday during an interview with reporters in Kano.
Hashim stated that critical commodities, especially GeneXpert cartridges for TB diagnosis, were unavailable in the first and second quarters of 2026.
He explained that these shortages have affected healthcare delivery across facilities, leaving thousands of patients without access to treatment.
“Between 3,000 and 4,000 TB patients in Kano State are currently out of treatment,” Hashim said.
He noted that SOCCEE has expanded its activities to 30 local government areas across the state, identifying over 1,500 diagnosed TB patients and enrolling about 800 on treatment.
Hashim warned that prolonged shortages could trigger a major public health crisis within the next three to four months.
“The challenge is that we identify suspected cases and collect samples, but facilities lack commodities for diagnosis,” he said.
He added that this situation hampers community-based efforts when essential services are unavailable.
Hashim called on the Federal, Kano State, and Local Governments to intervene immediately to address the shortages.
He urged the Kano State Government to establish a dedicated budget line for tuberculosis control, separate from broader public health allocations like HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Hashim emphasized that the current N250 million allocated for TB interventions is insufficient for effective service delivery and cannot cover a month’s supply of diagnostic cartridges.
He also highlighted efforts to improve treatment adherence among TB patients, working with 17 civil society organizations to raise awareness and support patients.
“Our goal is to ensure patients complete their medication and prevent further spread,” Hashim said.
He called for increased funding and timely release of resources, urging local councils to support TB control activities in their communities.
