Tuberculosis: WHO Urges Funding As Niger Records 14,908 Cases

A total of 14,908 tuberculosis cases were identified in Niger State, of which 8,629 were treated.

The cheering news came as the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned against underfunding for tuberculosis treatment and prevention.

The commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Bagana, disclosed this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day in Minna.

He said, “Niger State data as of 2025, we have 127,410 total presumptive and 126,228 presumptive tested. A total of 14,908 cases of TB were identified, of which 8,629 were fully cured with our diagnostic tools, including the Genexpert Machine, Trunat Machine, T LAMP and PDX Machine.”

The commissioner stated that the major challenge threatening the progress towards the 2030 elimination target is reductions in international donor funding from 2025 onwards.

Bagana, who was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Abdullahi Usman, promised that the state government, through the TB and Leprosy Control Programme, was poised to move to a higher level to eliminate TB by 2030.

In his remarks, WHO national professional officer, TB, North Central Zone, Dr Hananiya Dauda, said only eight per cent of the 18 per cent of the funds expected had been accessed and warned that if funds and commodities for tuberculosis cure are not provided by the state government, there would be a serious crisis as from June this year.

The director of Public Health, Dr Ibrahim Idris, had earlier said that the state had enough clinical workers and that the failure of immunisation (BCG) uptake for the newborn could be a reason for any further cases from 2030.