Health Experts Seek Tb Specific Legislation For Nigeria

Stakeholders in Tuberculosis control and elimination have stressed the need for the Federal government to enact a law that is Tuberculosis Specific to address challenges of TB elimination in the country.

The experts who spoke at the sideline of the 2024 National Tuberculosis Conference in Abuja said the law will prohibit stigma and discrimination against tuberculosis (TB) patients in Nigeria.

The Executive Director of Debridge Health Development Centre, Deborah Ike also highlighted the urgent need for a robust legal framework to address tuberculosis issues in the country.

Dr Ike said there are still a gaps in terms of awareness creation of TB especially at the community levels.

The Executive Director noted that the major barrier to ending tuberculosis in Nigeria was stigma and the discrimination in the work places and the communities.

“Because even though testing and treatment are free in Nigeria, people continue to die.the treatments are available. the medications are there.”
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“But some people still do not have the freedom to go and access those services for fear of stigma and discrimination.”

She explained that stigma has different faces and types which includes self-stigma, work stigma.

Adding his voice to TB elimination in Nigeria, the National Coordinator of African Coalition on Tuberculosis in Nigeria and Chairman Community Connect for this conference. Ibrahim Umuru said the Conference was very critical about the community component in TB response in Nigeria and globally.

Umoru called for improved sensitization and reorganization of Tb priorities and improved funding.

He said the conference was aimed at knowledge sharing, a curate and timely diagnostics, and support to achieve the 2030 goals.

Uluru noted that Nigeria’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic are evidence of what can the country can achieve.

According to him,“This is about sharing experiences and building on the value that civil society organizations bring to the TB response.”

“Despite the pandemic, Nigeria exceeded its TB response targets by 15%. With the right diagnostics, resources, and support, we can achieve the 2030 goal,”he added.

TB is not just a hospital issue; it’s a community issue. When someone has TB, they come from a home, a family, and a community. Addressing it requires a strong community component,” he said.

When asked about achieving the goal of ending TB by 2030, Umoru emphasized the need for resources and commitment, pointing out Nigeria’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of what can be achieved.

Meanwhile at the 38th Board Meeting of the Stop TB Partnership Global, hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady ,Senator Oluremi Tinubu, some issues were brought to the table , which include local manufacturing of Tb Vaccines and how to integrate TB care into primary healthcare system.

The Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership Global, Dr Lucica Ditiu “The Big Reset to End TB,” said there need for all partners to play an active role in the fight against tuberculosis.

Dr Lucica Ditiu highlighted Nigeria’s remarkable progress, adding that the country had moved from a 36% TB case detection rate to 80% within five years.

Key issue on the agenda of the meeting is how to drive public-private partnerships.

The theme of the conference is: “Be Part of the Solution to End TB in Nigeria