By Muhammad Amaan
The First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, has listed sustained investment, innovative strategies, among others as pathways for Nigeria to achieve the global Tuberculosis targets by 2035.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2024 National TB conference in Abuja, the former lawmaker also said breaking barriers that hinder access to essential care and support must be prioritised for the country to achieve 2035 TB goals.
Speaking on the conference themed “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery– Panacea to End TB in Nigeria,” Mrs Tinubu stressed the need for collaboration between public and private sectors.
According to her, the public and private partnerships are vital to improving TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ensuring no one is left behind in the fight against the disease.
She said TB remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, with the country ranking 6th globally and first in Africa.
“Globally, and according to the 2024 WHO global TB report, an estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million people losing their lives, and 12 per cent of the global burden affecting the most vulnerable – the children and young adolescents,” she said.
The First Lady reiterated the President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to achieving the global TB targets by 2035, which include reducing TB deaths by 95 per cent, TB incidence by 90 per cent, and eliminating catastrophic costs for TB-affected households.
“To achieve this, we will require sustained investment, innovative strategies, and a renewed focus on breaking the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care and support that they desperately need,” she said.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said TB affects millions in the country, especially vulnerable populations, including women and children.
According to him, tackling the disease requires an inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive approach that leaves no one behind. He added that Nigeria has adopted global best practices to accelerate its progress in meeting the 2035 targets.
“One of our key strategies was the launch of the Private Sector TB Initiative in July 2024, in collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, which has mobilised resources to strengthen TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.
“Through this initiative, the Nigerian private sector has committed up to $25 million over time to support TB-related activities,” the minister said.
He urged states to prioritise TB within their health budgets and collaborate with the Federal Government to achieve the country’s shared goals.
