By Iyemah David
Nigeria’s First Lady Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, had urged all stakeholders to work together to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
Represented by Dr Victoria Okala, the first lady, gave the commendation in Abuja, at the Launching of the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer, and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) Compendium of Tuberculosis Best Practices in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s First Lady who is also the Global Tuberculosis Ambassador reiterated that effective coordination was needed to end the TB epidemic in the country.
It was reported that at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there was an 18 per cent drop in globally in the number of TB cases diagnosed and notified; from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020.
In the same period, TB deaths increased significantly as a result of reduced attention to treating TB patients.
Nigeria, as with many others countries, suffered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with negative socioeconomic trends and health service disruptions.
Following the introduction of lockdown measures for pandemic control in the second quarter of 2020, TB testing was reduced by about 30 per cent resulting in a 17 per cent reduction in TB case finding and notification.
In a remark, the Minister of State for Health, Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, said “We are sharing our story today and have relied on the collaboration and cooperation of partners to get to where we are today.”
Mamora stressed that with the support of partners the country would get to where it should be.
“Of course, we have not claimed to have all the knowledge, we are relying on the support of the partnership, collaboration and co operation of partners of friends and well-meaning d Nigerians.
“We have not forgotten those heroes who made very significant contributions.
They planted trees without bearing if they will be beneficiaries of this shade, they are no more here but we remember them and we say that their commitment will continue to inspire us,” he said.
He assured that the programme has had very robust working relationships with the health committee both in the senate and the House of Representatives, for which he commanded their support.
Dr John Thomas, Representative of Global Fund, said that the organisation is proud to see the level of state engagement in the country and is happy to continue with its support in case finding in Nigeria.
Thomas said that the organisation would not forget the challenges of case finding but, it was good to stop and celebrate its milestone.
Earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, while unveiling the NTBLCP’s Compendium of Tuberculosis Best Practices, disclosed that the integration of TB and COVID-19 led to a 15 per cent increment in TB case notification and made Nigeria one of the few countries in the world to record an increase in TB case notification in 2020.
