Despite sustained effort in eliminating Tuberculosis diseases out of the country, it still need to strengthen its primary healthcare and community-based TB care to help identify and treat every TB case.
WHO County Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo stated this at the opening ceremony of the National TB conference held yesterday in Abuja.
According to him, TB remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria characterized by large numbers of undiagnosed and untreated cases and huge funding gaps (60% gap in 2023).
“The dual burden of TB and HIV further complicates our response, while multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to rise, requiring more complex and resource-intensive treatment strategies. Additionally, stigma and socio-economic barriers—such as poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to health services continue to worsen the burden of TB in the country”.
He further noted that with six years left to achieve the 2030 target to end Tuberculosis epidemic, Nigeria needs urgent and bold action in prioritizing inclusive strategies that address the needs of all population groups and ensure adequate funding.
Dr. Walter also reiterated World Health Organization steadfast in its support for Nigeria’s efforts to end TB adding that world health body will continue to provide technical guidance, advocate for increased investment, and work alongside our partners to strengthen health systems and address systemic inequities. Together, through our collective resolve, we can make TB a disease of the past.
He also commended Federal Government efforts in making significant progress towards TB control adding that Nigeria has seen an increase in TB case detection and treatment success rates with TB treatment coverage increasing from 59% in 2022 to 74% in 2023.
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