Surge in TB cases: Nigeria running on a dangerous terrain, Experts warn

By Doosuur Iwambe

Worried over the surge in Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Nigeria especially in children, experts in the nation’s health sector have said that Nigeria is running on a dangerous terrain.

The experts made this disclosure during a meeting of a High- Level Mission on Domestic Resource Mobilization to end TB in Nigeria with the First Lady of Nigeria Dr. Aisha Buhari, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. (Dr.) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.

Speaking during his presentation at the meeting, the National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike informed the first lady that Nigeria was currently leading in TB both in Africa and the world.

Anyaike while emphasizing the need to take urgent steps in curbing the growing menace, he lamented that the funding gap which currently stood at 69% is still huge.
He called on the first lady to lend her support to address the high rate of Drug resistant TB cases especially among children which is transmitted from women.

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Earlier, the Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership Geneva, Dr. Lucica Ditiu who expressed worry that childhood TB was on the increase in the country called on the federal government to give priority to the spread of Tuberculosis by closing the funding gap.

‘’There was a need for Nigeria to close the huge tuberculosis financial gap and improve diagnostics through priority funding of state governments.

“The increase of DR-TB infection is becoming a community transmission issue, Childhood TB on the increase, there is need to have more TB representatives on the CCM.”

Dr. Lucica however commended Nigeria for the strides achieved in the last 2 years.
On her part, the Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji commended the efforts of the first lady over the years to ensure that TB is curbed to the barest minimum.

She said, ‘’the first lady she used her office to organise a first lady’s summit on TB where she would appreciate the Governor’s wives who supported her during her tenure in the fight against TB and also encourage others to take up the fight.

In her response, the First Lady who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant apologised for her absence and appreciated the Stop TB Partnership team for visiting to enumerate the daunting issues in the fight against TB.

She said the first lady had committed to reinforce her work with the state governors and also use the media extensively while partnering with other government establishments like National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of health for more testing and diagnostic kits as the president of African First ladies.

She added that the issue of TB will be in the front burner of the association adding that private public partnership should be intensified and there should be transparent publicity for the impact to be felt.

She assured the team that every request was noted and would be discussed with the first lady.

Also, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who acknowledged that TB needed more support, promised to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance, the parliament, and also the secretary to the Government of the Federation.

”We will explore all avenues to see how more resources can be mobilized for the fight against TB.” he promised.