Health Stakeholders Woo Private Sector On Importance Of Tuberculosis Control

Public and private sector, Health Experts in Tuberculosis control, and Civil Society Organisations have converged in Abuja to find workable solutions to address the challenges bedevilling Tuberculosis control in Nigeria.

The event is being organised by the Stop TB Partnership, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) as well as the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and USAID

Speaking on the status of TB PPM in Nigeria, the PPM focal person at NTBLCP, Dr. Stella Makpu identified some challenges affecting Tuberculosis eradication in Nigeria.

The challenges according to her include dwindling funding for TB programme implementation and high staff attrition in PPM facilities.

” Knowledge gap, among Healthcare workers, in the private sector on current TB management guidelines.”

She said to address some of these issues there was the need for domestic resource mobilization in PPM and continuous capacity building of staff in the private facilities.

On her part, the Board Chairman of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr.Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, observed that for Nigeria to identify and find the missing cases there was a need to engage the necessary stakeholders.

”It is a good thing we want to work with every partner in order to diagnose the over 300,000 missing cases, these people keep on transmitting the disease to other people,” she said.

The Director, Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, said there was a need for stakeholders to come together and address the challenges of tuberculosis in the country.

He noted that the meeting was to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors to find innovative solutions to find the missing cases of tuberculosis in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary, Stop TB Partnership, Mayowa Joel, said the objectives of the meeting was to orientate partners about the project and set up the PPM Advocacy Team.

”To raise awareness among key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, and private sector entities about the importance of PPM and TB control.”

Mr Joel noted that the meeting was also to build the capacity of team members in PPM advocacy, policy analysis, and communication skills.

According to him, ” To advocate for favourable policies, regulations, and incentives to encourage private sector engagement in TB control.”

”To facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors, fostering partnerships that enhance access to TB services and resources,” he added.