By Augusta Daniel
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating tuberculosis (TB) while acknowledging critical funding gaps and emerging threats such as drug-resistant TB.
Represented by Dr Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services at the ministry, on Tuesday in Abuja, during the ministerial press briefing in commemoration of World TB Day 2025, the minister highlighted the country’s progress, including the expansion of TB diagnostic services and community engagement efforts.
It would be recalled that according to the 2024 WHO Global TB Report, Nigeria accounted for approximately 4.6 percent of global TB cases, with about 71,000 deaths recorded in 2023.
Prof. Pate emphasised that undernutrition, HIV, diabetes, and lifestyle factors like smoking continue to fuel TB infections, particularly among the working-age population (15-44 years).
He outlined several interventions that have strengthened Nigeria’s TB response.
“Expansion of TB diagnostic services: The number of GeneXpert machines increased from 32 in 2012 to 513 in 2024, while TB treatment centres grew from 12,606 in 2019 to 23,000 in 2024, covering 57 percent of health facilities.
“Use of AI-powered digital X-ray technology: Over 400 mobile digital X-ray units have been deployed across the country to detect asymptomatic TB cases.
“Improved sample referral network: More than 3.8 million TB samples were transported for testing in 2024, up from 2 million in 2023.
“Public-Private Partnerships: The government expanded TB services to 4,000 private health facilities, contributing 34 percent of TB case notifications.
“Youth Engagement: The launch of the “Gen-Z Against TB Movement” is mobilizing young Nigerians to spread TB awareness,” he highlighted.
Despite these advancements, Pate warned that financial constraints could jeopardize progress, particularly following the recent withdrawal of USAID funding, which previously supported nearly 50 percent of TB case detection efforts.
“The government has responded by securing a 50 million dollars TB bond, with the private sector contributing half of the funds,” he said.
Another key concern he raised was the low enrolment in Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment, with only 3,500 cases receiving treatment out of an estimated 9,400 cases in 2024.
“To address this, the government is conducting a nationwide Drug-Resistant TB survey and expanding treatment services at local government and community levels,” he said.
He stressed the need for enhanced community TB screening, expanded childhood TB detection, and increased domestic investment in TB programs.
He urged stakeholders, including the media, to amplify awareness campaigns with key messages such as “TB is preventable and curable” and “TB treatment is free in designated facilities nationwide.”
The WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in its fight against TB.
Mulombo, who was represented by Dr Mya Ngon, Team Lead, Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO, highlighted the global and national burden of TB, noting that Nigeria accounts for over five per cent of global TB cases, with an estimated 499,000 cases annually.
He commended Nigeria’s progress in TB response, particularly the 300% increase in TB case notifications, from 138,583 in 2020 to 418,198 in 2024, which has significantly reduced the TB detection gap from 73 percent (2019) to 17 percent (2024).
However, he warned that over 80,000 undetected cases continue to fuel community transmission.
He praised key initiatives, of the launch of the Multisectoral Accountability Framework, aimed at tracking TB progress and the Private Sector TB Strategy, which is helping to mobilize domestic resources.
Among others, he said were infrastructure development in primary healthcare (PHC) under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative.
He raised concerns about funding challenges following the withdrawal of USAID support, stressing the need for dedicated domestic funding to sustain TB efforts.
He also noted that 71 percent of TB patients suffer catastrophic costs, pushing them further into poverty.
He pledged WHO’s continued technical and financial support, including capacity building for frontline health workers, and called on all stakeholders including the press and the public to unite under the theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” with the Nigerian slogan “We fit do am.”
As Nigeria works toward its goal of ending TB by 2030, the minister called for collective action under the 2025 World TB Day theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.”
