The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has lauded the progress made in the battle against tuberculosis (TB) in the country, noting the steady increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for the disease. She made these remarks at the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference held on Tuesday, December 10, in Abuja.
Despite the significant strides, Senator Tinubu expressed concern over the persistent global burden of TB, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Highlighting Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest TB burden in Africa and the sixth globally, she referenced the 2024 WHO Global Tuberculosis Report, which recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in Nigeria in 2023.
“Despite these challenges, I am encouraged by the progress that has been made so far,” the First Lady said. “Thanks to the commitment of the Tinubu administration, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, and international partners, we have seen a steady increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB.”
Reaffirming her dedication to eradicating TB in Nigeria by 2035, Senator Tinubu emphasized the need for sustained efforts and innovative strategies.
“As we celebrate our successes, we must also acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. We cannot afford to be complacent. The Federal Government remains fully committed to achieving the global TB targets by 2035. This will require sustained investment, innovative strategies, and a renewed focus on breaking the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care and support they need.”
She praised health workers, community leaders, activists, and TB survivors for their tireless efforts, calling them “the true heroes of this fight.”
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, urged the private sector to join hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to eliminate TB in Nigeria by 2030. Similarly, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Salako, emphasized that TB is not just a health issue but a development challenge that demands serious attention from the government.
International partners commended Nigeria’s achievements in TB control. Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership Global, Geneva, and Dr. Jean Gibisi Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, praised Nigeria for its progress in ramping up TB identification, reporting, and treatment over the last five years.
“Nigeria’s achievements in addressing TB are remarkable,” Dr. Ditiu said. “I appeal to the First Lady to share her success story with African Heads of State in February in Addis Ababa to inspire similar commitment across the continent.”
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, a title she received on March 28, 2024, Senator Tinubu underscored her leadership role by commissioning TB-LAMPS, an advanced diagnostic tool for TB testing.
The First Lady’s dedication to combating TB reinforces Nigeria’s position as a leader in the global fight against the disease and sets a benchmark for collaboration, innovation, and commitment to public health.
