Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Chideraejemeka
Published on 2024-03-20 15:22:53
Ahead of the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health experts have emphasized the need for increased funding for Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria to achieve the goal of eradicating the disease by 2030. The call was made during a media briefing in Abuja where the low awareness levels of the disease were highlighted as a significant barrier to addressing the threat of TB.
The National Programme Officer for TB at WHO, Amos Omoniyi, highlighted the global impact of TB as a deadly disease, with millions of cases and deaths occurring annually. Nigeria, carrying the sixth highest burden of the disease, accounts for 97,000 death cases, representing 23% of the total 2.4 million deaths in the African region. Despite being a curable disease, TB continues to claim lives and affect individuals, creating a pressing need for increased awareness and funding.
Mr. Omoniyi also noted that Nigeria has a 70% funding gap in TB, which, coupled with high levels of donor dependency and limited infrastructure, hampers access to essential TB services including diagnosis and treatment. He urged governments, civil society organizations, and international partners to step up their support and address these barriers to enhance TB control efforts. Investing in TB eradication not only saves lives but also contributes to economic development, underscoring the importance of advocacy and resource mobilization against this silent killer.
Raising awareness about TB symptoms and treatment options was emphasized as crucial, with a focus on the role of communities and individuals in advocating for improved healthcare services. World TB Day is commemorated annually on March 24th to raise awareness about the impact of the disease, with the theme for the 2024 edition being “Yes, We can End TB.” The Executive Director of KNCV TB Foundation Nigeria, Bethrand Odume, emphasized the theme’s call for unity and intensified efforts to combat TB, aligning with the goal of eradicating the disease by 2030.
The theme signifies hope and builds on the progress made in previous years by TB High Burden Countries and TB Champions worldwide, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores the need for increased participation from TB patients, communities, and civil society leaders in the fight against TB, highlighting advancements in research and development of new diagnosis tools, treatment regimens, and vaccines. Sustaining progress in finding missing TB cases and scaling up key strategies were identified as critical in improving TB control efforts.
KNCV is actively collaborating with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, as well as state TB programs in 14 supported states, to enhance TB case detection in Nigeria through projects like the USAID-supported TB Local Organization Network. The collective efforts of organizations, governments, and individuals are instrumental in advancing TB control initiatives and ultimately eradicating the disease by 2030. Advocacy, resource mobilization, and sustained progress in research and development are crucial in achieving this goal.
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