Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the need for sustained investment, innovative strategies, and renewed focus to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
Speaking at the 2024 National TB Conference in Abuja, she acknowledged the progress made in increasing TB diagnosis and treatment, but decried the global burden of TB, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
TB remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, with the country ranking sixth globally and first in Africa. According to the 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report, Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in 2023.
Tinubu reaffirmed her commitment to eliminating TB in Nigeria before 2035, emphasizing the importance of collective action and innovation to close gaps in TB care and support.
She also commended health workers, community leaders, activists, and TB survivors for their dedication to the fight against TB.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, urged the private sector to join efforts to end TB in Nigeria before 2030.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Salako, highlighted that TB is not just a health issue but a development challenge that requires serious attention.
International partners, including the Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership Global, Geneva, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, praised Nigeria’s progress in ramping up identification, reporting, and treating TB over the past five years.
The First Lady, who was designated as the Global and National Stop TB Champion in March 2024, also commissioned the TB-LAMPS for disease testing.
