Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has emphasised the urgent need for a unified approach to address the country’s tuberculosis (TB) burden.
Speaking at the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Tinubu acknowledged progress in the fight against TB but highlighted alarming statistics from the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2024 Global Tuberculosis Report. The report ranks Nigeria as the sixth-highest TB burdened country globally and the highest in Africa.
‘Science Nigeria’ reports that the conference, themed ‘Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria,’ brought together healthcare experts, policymakers, international partners and civil society organisations.
Tinubu noted that in 2023, Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases, with millions of lives still at risk.
“Despite the progress we have made, the global burden of TB remains significant, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like ours.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. Our commitment to achieving the global TB targets by 2035 is unwavering,” she said.
She stressed that public-private partnerships and integrated service delivery are critical to achieving success in the fight against TB.
Tinubu also pointed to Nigeria’s renewed health agenda under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises innovative strategies and sustained investment in TB diagnosis and treatment.
“We need to break the barriers preventing people from accessing the care they need. This conference is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the fight against TB and explore the solutions necessary to end it,” she added.
The First Lady reaffirmed her personal commitment to the cause, referencing her donation earlier in the year that funded new TB diagnostic tools aimed at increasing case detection and treatment. She described this effort as part of her broader advocacy to mobilise resources and adopt an aggressive approach to controlling TB.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health and international stakeholders such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund for their unwavering support.
“The health workers, community leaders, activists and TB survivors working on the frontlines are the true heroes of this fight,” she said, highlighting the importance of grassroots efforts in the national battle against the disease.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Tinubu expressed confidence that unity and collaboration would enable Nigeria to meet global TB eradication targets. “Together, we can end TB in Nigeria,” she declared.
WHO country representative for Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo emphasised the need for urgent and bold actions, with just six years left to achieve the 2030 global target to end the TB epidemic.
“We must prioritise inclusive strategies that address the needs of all population groups and ensure adequate funding. Strengthening primary healthcare, investing in innovative technologies, and addressing the social determinants of TB are critical to building a comprehensive and sustainable response,” Mulombo said.
‘Science Nigeria’ reports that stakeholders at the conference—including political leaders, NGOs and private sector representatives—underscored the importance of sustained partnerships, innovative approaches and strong political will to end TB and HIV in Nigeria.
As Nigeria continues its public health journey, experts remain optimistic that ongoing collaboration between government agencies, international partners, and local communities will lead to a healthier and more equitable future.
