The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu says through leadership, community engagement and strategic national coordination, Nigeria has ensured that the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB has significantly increased.
She stated this as the special guest of honor at the 39th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting held in Manila.
The First Lady explained to the gathering of over 180 participants from 47 countries that Nigeria is strengthening its commitment to reduce reliance on donor funding, to build resilient systems, and to ensure that no setback, however unexpected, will derail her mission to end TB by 2030.
“I am equally pleased to share that, despite the temporary shifts in support from some financing partners, Nigeria’s efforts in the fight against TB have remained strong. Through steadfast leadership, community engagement, and strategic national coordination, we have ensured that the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB in 2025 did not decline. This stands as a testament to the power of country ownership and to the unwavering commitment of Nigerians who continue to drive this response forward, even in the face of uncertainty”.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasized that health for all begins in our communities.
“Coming together for the Stop TB Partnership Board meetings remind us that the fight against tuberculosis is not finished and that TB remains the biggest infectious killer disease and is a threat for all of us, being airborne”.
“It claims close to 1.3 million lives each year. In Nigeria, we remain among the eight countries that account for two-thirds of global TB cases, with an estimated 479,000 Nigerians developing TB in 2023 and more than 150,000 deaths recorded. These are not numbers, they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters whose lives compel us to act with urgency and compassion”.
“As the First Lady of Nigeria and as a Global and National Stop TB Champion, I reaffirm Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to end TB by 2030, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR”.
Nigeria’s First lady commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and its affiliate agencies, the Stop TB Partnership and others for their dedication and transparency in ensuring that all the money mobilized towards expanding access to testing, diagnosis, treatment and integrating TB services into primary healthcare are judiciously utilized.
In his remarks, the Stop TB Partnership Board Chair and Secretary of Health of Philippines Teodoro Herbosa pointed out that TB is more than a health concern but a development challenge for many nations.
“It is critical fight, despite the remarkable progress made but we must be relentless and determined”.
“AI and innovative technology must be deployed to improve testing, detection and treatment of TB if we are going to win the fight effectively. Digital transformation of TB care must be pursed and sustained”.
The Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership, Dr Lucica Ditiu while giving the board report noted that integrating data systems with governments of various country’s is vital to ending TB by 2030.
“In 5 countries, in the last 2 months new facility for grants have been deployed and with it, 8,000 were screened, 5,000 were diagnosed and 3,000 enrolled in preventive treatment”.
She concluded that to make greater and sustained progress, countries and governments must own their TB responses, construct systems that endure, put TB on the front-burner at all times, incorporate civil societies, communities and survivors into the fight against the disease and ultimately there should be more political commitment.
Also, in attendance at this edition of the meeting was Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.
The 38th edition of the Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting was held in Abuja in 2024.
