TB: National Assembly To Strengthen Advocacy For Improved Interventions

As part of efforts to find the missing Tuberculosis, TB cases in the Federal Capital Territory, stakeholders in the health sector embarked on a road walk in FCT, to create awareness about tuberculosis in commemoration of World TB Day 2024.

At the flag-off ceremony in Abuja, the Chairman House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Amobi Ogah stressed the for Government, Private sector, and Civil Society Organizations and all Nigerians to close ranks and collaborate for the mutual goal of ending TB in the country.

Represented by the House of Representatives member, from the Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency of Abia State, Ibe Osonwa Okwara promised to strengthen advocacy for more government interventions in allocating and releasing resources to fight TB.

”The Nigerian Government must take the lead in the fight against TB by providing the necessary funds needed to drive the process of ending TB by the year 2030.”

He said there was a need to put in place systems to ensure early detection and management of TB, and procurement of equipment like Gene Pert Machines to facilitate easy diagnosis at all local governments across the country.

”It is indeed disheartening to note that of the 38 million dollars required to fight TB in Nigeria, 24% came from international funding sources with only 6% from domestic sources leaving a gap of 70% unfunded.”

He stressed the need to invest in research and development, as well as data gathering to make informed decisions on programs for ending TB.

According to him, ” We are aware that one of the challenges that people affected by TB face is stigma and discrimination and this hinders them from starting or completing their treatment.”

”As Representatives of the people, we will always advocate that policy and program design should pass through us, to own such programs and convince our people to buy into them.” READ ALSO: Tuberculosis: Clergy Seeks Regular Awareness Campaign On Causes, Treatment

”On this note, we encourage TB stakeholders to design programs that we can own and take to our Constituencies to form part of our constituency projects.”

The Deputy Project Director for Malaria and TB, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Dr Bolatito Aiyenigba said Nigeria needed to keep up the pressure and the demand to be able to end TB by 2032.

Dr Aiyenigba said funding for tuberculosis control in Nigeria has improved as different donors are coming together to ensure easy diagnosis and treatment.

The roadshow was supported by the USAID-funded Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria and other TB partners like the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme to commemorate the 2024 World TB Day.