Nigerian Lawmakers Demand Urgent Action on Tuberculosis Epidemic
By DAYO ADESULU
Key Resolutions Adopted at Plenary
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to combat tuberculosis (TB), a disease that remains one of the leading infectious killers globally and in Nigeria. During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers outlined several measures to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against TB, including:
- Establishment of a TB Trust Fund
- The House called for the creation of a Trust Fund, led by the private sector, to mobilize resources for TB control efforts.
- Provision of Diagnostic Equipment
- Urged the Federal Government to provide TB diagnostic equipment across the 774 Local Government Areas to improve detection rates.
- Legislative Action on Rights Abuse
- Mandated its Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Malaria Control to draft a bill addressing human rights abuses faced by TB patients.
Amobi Ogah’s Motion Highlights TB Crisis
The motion, sponsored by Labour Party lawmaker Amobi Ogah (Abia State) and six others, emphasized the urgency of translating Nigeria’s international commitments into actionable measures.
“Although TB is curable and preventable, it kills more people than HIV and Malaria combined globally,” Ogah stated, citing statistics that rank Nigeria first in Africa and sixth globally in TB burden.
Staggering TB Statistics in Nigeria
- Nigeria accounts for 4.6% of the global TB burden, with the disease claiming more lives than HIV/AIDS and Malaria combined.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 11 million people contract TB annually, with 1.8 million deaths globally.
Funding and Diagnostic Gaps
The lawmakers expressed concern over insufficient funding for TB at local and global levels. Key issues include:
- Diagnosis Gap: One-third of TB patients worldwide are undiagnosed, while fewer than half of children with TB are tested.
- Funding Shortfalls: TB receives only 18% of Global Fund investments, compared to 50% for HIV and 32% for Malaria.
- Projected Budget Deficits: Over 70% of countries supported by the Global Fund face deficits, with ten countries expected to face a $600 million shortfall by 2025.
Global Commitments to End TB by 2030
The House referenced commitments made at two United Nations high-level meetings on TB (2018 and 2023), where global leaders, including Nigeria, pledged to end TB by 2030. Despite these commitments, Nigeria faces significant challenges in translating promises into action.
Calls to Action
To meet its TB eradication goals, the House recommended:
- Increased Local Funding: Urging the Federal Government to boost its TB budget for critical diagnostics and treatment resources.
- Advocacy for Global Fund Allocation: Demanding the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism in Nigeria to push for an increase in TB’s share of global health funding to 35%.
- Awareness and Stigma Reduction: Addressing stigma, discrimination, and human rights abuses against TB patients through legislation and public awareness campaigns.
Next Steps
With its recommendations, the House underscored the urgency of aligning Nigeria’s health policies with its international commitments. The resolutions now await Federal Government action, as stakeholders across the public and private sectors are called upon to collaborate in eradicating TB from Nigeria.
