2025 World Tuberculosis Day: FG Prioritizes Prevention, Expanding TB Testing, Free Treatment
…First Lady Pledges N1 Bn To Fight TB
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Federal Government has pledged it’s commitment to prioritize prevention and expanding TB Testing and treatment centres across Nigeria; emphasizing TB treatment remains free and accessible to reach the most vulnerable people.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, disclosed this at the 2025 World Tuberculosis Day-Community Outreach held at Sauka Community in Abuja.
This year’s Commemoration is themed “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver” with our local slogan ” We Fit Do Am”.
Tinubu asserted that this year’s theme is a call to action for all Nigerians and international partners, stressing, beyond being a disease, Tuberculosis TB is a national emergency that required urgent attention because it is preventable and curable.
According to her, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and, through the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare; the government is fully committed to eradicating TB, through strategic investments in diagnostics, treatment and, prevention.
She said: “We are working to bridge the gap in TB detection and care on all fronts in Nigeria.
“ The government has prioritized expanding TB testing and treatment centres across Nigeria, ensuring that TB treatment remains free and accessible to all, strengthening our community-based healthcare system to reach the most vulnerable populations and, enhancing funding and partnerships to scale up TB control programs”.
As a Global and National Stop TB Champion, Senator Oluremi Tinubu seized the opportunity to pledge an additional sum of One Billion Naira from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) towards the fight against Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako commended the First Lady for her unwavering support in our efforts to eradicate TB in Nigeria.
The Minister posited that Nigeria is one of the high burden countries contributing 4.6% of the global burden.
This public health challenge, he stated, is further worsened by factors such as stigma and discrimination against those affected by TB, poverty, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions and inadequate access to quality healthcare services.
Regarding Nigeria’s TB response, Dr. Salako emphasized that the country recorded it’s highest-ever TB notification of over 400,000 cases in 2024, translating to a case detection rate of 79% .
“Additionally, TB notification among children has seen remarkable improvement, rising from 8,293 in 2018 to about 43,000 in 2024”, the Minister added .
Nigeria, Dr. Salako continued, has intensified efforts to further strengthen TB screening, diagnosis, treatment and preventive services across the country in line with the TB National Strategic Plan (NSP) under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative NHRII.
He said: “The President has directed and provided the enabling environment for primary healthcare revitalisation with over 10,000 primary healthcare centres currently being upgraded and 120,000 healthcare workers at the PHC levels being exposed to ongoing training.
The use of digital tools, mobile technology and, artificial intelligence is being expanded to enhance surveillance, case management and, adherence to TB treatment .
Almost 400 portable digital x-ray equipments are being deployed to communities and health facilities nationwide to facilitate prompt screening and early diagnosis of TB especially in underserved communities, Dr Salako further highlighted.
