The Federal Government has injected N700 billion to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and immunisation towards improving public health amidst US aid cuts.
The chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, disclosed this at a pre-World TB Day press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, themed “Yes, We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver.”
Hon. Ogah described the N700 billion as a “game-changer“ in the fight against TB and other infectious diseases while applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising healthcare funding, especially in response to the withdrawal of U.S. financial support.
“This is a wake-up call for us as a nation to take full responsibility for our healthcare system and ensure that funds meant for intervention programs are judiciously utilised,”Ogah stated.
Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria and globally. Every day, approximately 4,100 people die from TB worldwide, while 27,000 people contract the disease. Despite being both preventable and curable, TB continues to pose a significant public health challenge, especially in low-income countries.
Hon. Ogah highlighted the urgent need for Nigeria to scale up TB services, including early diagnosis, treatment, case management, and contact tracing. He also stressed the importance of preventive therapy for those exposed to TB, particularly individuals diagnosed with latent TB infection.
Furthermore, he called for stronger community engagement to combat stigma and improve TB awareness, particularly in vulnerable populations. “We must ensure that our healthcare workers are well-trained and that screening initiatives reach communities most at risk,” he said.
“We will continue to provide legislative mechanisms and interventions to support the fight against TB in Nigeria.
Just last year, we moved a motion in the House of Representatives calling for increased domestic funding for TB treatment and the establishment of private-sector TB treatment hospitals, just as we have for HIV and malaria,“ he stated.
He also urged the federal government to lobby the Global Fund to increase TB funding allocation from 18 percent to 30 percent. He assured that the committee is finalising plans to pass a law to protect TB patients from discrimination and stigmatisation.
Reflecting on the recent U.S. aid withdrawal, Hon Ogah described it as an opportunity for Nigeria and Africa to take charge of their healthcare systems.
World TB Day, observed annually on March 24, aims to raise awareness about tuberculosis‘s devastating health, social, and economic impact and encourage global action towards its eradication.
The Stop TB Partnership Nigeria has called for stronger political will, increased domestic funding, and sustained collaboration to eliminate tuberculosis (TB).
The Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, emphasised the urgency of the fight against TB, describing it as a significant public health challenge that continues to claim thousands of lives annually in Nigeria.
Dr. Ogbuji-Ladipo stressed that Nigeria must prioritise domestic resource mobilisation for TB as international donor support declines.
“We must intensify our advocacy now more than ever. Let us push for stronger policies, more domestic resources, and improved TB detection and treatment services,” she urged.
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