As Nigeria gets set to mark 2025 World TB Day, government has vowed to eliminate the disease amid alarming statistics ranking the country 1st in Africa and 6th globally among 30 high-burden TB nations.
In that regard, Federal Government has pledged to expand screening, digital innovations, and stronger community engagements to eliminate the scourge.
The Director of Public Health at the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Godwin Ntadom made this known at a pre-World TB Day press briefing conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
World TB Day is annually marked on March 24 to draw more attention to the urgency and accountability needed to combat tuberculosis.
The theme for this year’s global observance is “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.”
According to the 2024 World Health Organisation (WHO) Global TB Report, 499,000 Nigerians developed TB in 2023, with more than 400,000 cases identified and treated in 2024, translating to 79 per cent treatment coverage.
In spite of the progress, however, thousands of cases remain undiagnosed, fueling further transmission of the disease.
Ntadom, therefore, underscored the economic and social burden of TB, particularly on Nigeria’s productive age group (25-44 years).
He said “the disease continues to push families into poverty, worsened by malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to healthcare.
“One untreated TB patient can infect up to 15 people per year,” stressing the urgency of intensified screening, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.”
In line with the National TB Strategic Plan (2021-2026) and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, he outlined key strategies to accelerate TB eradication.
He listed expanding TB services across public and private health facilities under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, strengthening community engagement by working with traditional and religious leaders to increase awareness and reduce stigma.
He said integrating TB services into reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health (RMNCAH+N) programmes and deploying 370 portable digital X-ray machines to facilitate screening, especially in underserved communities would also help.
He added that enhancing social protection for TB patients and families to ease financial burden is also key, and called for multi-sectoral collaboration.
He disclosed that the government announced the launch of a Multi-Sectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) aimed at ensuring all stakeholders, including government ministries, donor agencies, civil society, and the private sector, play active role in TB eradication efforts.
He urged Nigerians to take advantage of free TB testing and treatment services available at DOTS centres nationwide.
He said “TB is curable. Anyone with a persistent cough lasting two or more weeks should visit a health facility,” officials stated, encouraging the public to call the toll-free TB helpline (3340) for assistance.
“With five years left to meet the global 2030 TB eradication target, stakeholders emphasised that Nigeria must sustain momentum by investing more in diagnosis, treatment, and awareness,” he said.
While the goal of ending TB by 2030 remains ambitious, he insisted that even if complete eradication was not achieved, efforts must ensure TB was no longer a major public health threat in the country.
The acting Board Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo said that the country remains a high-burden TB country in spite of progress in diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy.
Oladipo said that the 2025 theme of the World TB Day underscores political and financial commitment to ending TB.
She said that achievements in 2024 include advocacy wins, high-profile TB champions (including the First Lady and state leaders), private sector funding commitments, and procurement of diagnostic equipment.
She noted that the call for domestic resource mobilisation was more urgent than ever due to declining donor support.
She also mentioned a call to action for policymakers, private sector stakeholders, and the public to advocate for better TB prevention, detection, and treatment policies.
A TB survivor, Mr Ekong Francis Ubong stressed the need for increased awareness and advocating for support and policies.
Ubong highlighted the organisation’s role in advocacy, support groups, awareness campaigns, and stigma reduction to empower TB survivors and improve access to services across Nigeria.
The Chair of the 2025 World TB Day Planning Committee, Dr Enang Oyama disclosed that members of the committee have approved the relaunch of the National Parliamentary Caucus.
Oyama said that to commemorate this year’s World TB Day, a special press conference by parliamentarians would be held on March 25 at the National Assembly, inviting Nigerians to participate.
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that often affects the lungs, spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit.
However, tuberculosis is preventable and curable, usually treated with antibiotics, but
can be fatal without treatment.
NAN
