.As Lagos govt reaffirms commitment to free TB screening, treatment
AKOR SYLVESTER, Abuja
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed fears of losing gains made against Tuberculosis (TB) in 20 years over funding cuts experienced by it in recent times.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, in an address to commemorate the 2025 World TB Day in Abuja Monday, said: “Today we face the existential threat of losing the huge gains the world has made against TB over the past 20 years due to funding cuts which have started to disrupt access to services for prevention, screening, and treatment for people with TB.
“In a space of 5 years, Nigeria has scaled up many new innovations and interventions that have resulted in the huge numbers of TB cases notified from 138,583 in 2020 during the pandemic year to 418,198 in 2024 which is a more than 300% increase.
“Any disruptions to TB services therefore will have fatal consequences for the thousands of people affected by the disease in Nigeria.
“Strong collaboration with the civil society and affected communities remain critical to mitigating TB service disruptions and ensuring equitable access to care”.
He said WHO will continue to play a central role as the leading global health agency in supporting countries to accelerate the TB response guided by the latest WHO TB guidelines.
“In the words of our DG, Dr Tedros, “WHO is committed to working with all donors, partners and affected countries to mitigate the impact of funding cuts and find innovative solutions”.
“WHO across the three levels remains committed and will collaborate with partners from the public and private sectors, NGOs, professional bodies, donors, civil society and most importantly the affected communities to mitigate the impact of these funding cuts.
“My message to the community leaders here today is simple. We should continue to provide leadership in the communities we serve to ensure the essential health care package including preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services are delivered to the people. One of such preventive care is vaccination against childhood illnesses. BCG should be given to the child at birth to help prevent severe forms of TB disease in the child who contracts the infection.
“Likewise, the malaria vaccine is now available for children between 5 and 15 months old and the GoN through NPHCDA, WHO and partners has begun campaigns to roll out this vaccine to these children.
“This vaccine is safe and potent and helps prevent Malaria in children.
WHO working with the Civil Societies around the world remains committed to ensuring that the voices of communities affected by TB are heard.
“We will continue to work with our partners and step up action towards mobilizing the needed domestic and international resources required for ending TB in Nigeria.
“TB is curable and treatable; I implore anyone coughing for two weeks or more to go for a TB test in the nearest health facility”, he noted.
The WHO representative called on all stakeholders, the donors, the private sector, civil society, academia and the press to join forces in solidarity in the fight against TB.
.As Lagos govt reaffirms commitment to free TB screening treatment
Meanwhile, The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Health, commemorated the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day with a mass awareness walk around the Lagos State Government Secretariat and the Alausa community, followed by a Stakeholders’ Engagement at the Folarin Coker Staff Clinic Conference Hall, Alausa-Ikeja.
The event had in attendance the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye; Chairman, Office of the First Lady TB Steering Committee, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, and other key TB partnership stakeholders.
This is contained in a statement by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director, Public Affairs.
Speaking at the event, First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu underscored the severity of TB, stating that over 10.3 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, cutting across all demographics. She emphasized the need for a grassroots approach in tackling the disease, which informed her decision to set up the TB Steering Committee.
“When I was made the TB Ambassador for Lagos State in 2023, I realized we needed a more strategic approach. That’s why we launched the TB Ambassadors and Champions in our Local Government Areas and LCDAs, involving 47 chairpersons, including 10 female chairmen, to extend awareness at the grassroots level.”
She highlighted the need for community engagement, ensuring that key groups such as transporters, market traders, and school children become TB advocates. She praised a doctor from Ibeju Lekki General Hospital for composing a TB awareness song, calling for creative methods—music, dance, and storytelling—to spread information about the disease.
“We need to ensure that even a bus conductor or a schoolchild can confidently discuss TB, its symptoms, and the fact that screening and treatment are free,” she stressed.
The First Lady also acknowledged the stigmatization faced by TB patients, calling for increased education to change perceptions. She urged the private sector to invest in TB eradication efforts, noting that more mobile TB screening trucks are needed to serve all five administrative divisions of Lagos State (IBILE – Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe).
“People must understand that TB is not just a disease of the poor. It affects everyone. If your nanny, driver, or child’s teacher has TB, you are exposed. That’s why we must take this fight seriously,” she warned.
She concluded by encouraging other states to adopt Lagos’ TB strategies, urging them to “copy well” and collaborate for nationwide eradication before 2030, as per global health targets.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to eliminating TB through increased funding, expanded screening access, and aggressive awareness campaigns.
“TB remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious disease, with 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Lagos, under the THEMES+ agenda, is committed to reducing these numbers by expanding access to primary healthcare services across the state,”, she said.
Dr. Ogunyemi emphasized the impact of stigma and poverty in TB transmission and care, stressing that many people avoid seeking medical help due to fear of discrimination. To combat this, she noted that the state government has integrated TB services into primary healthcare centers to ensure easier and stigma-free access to screening and treatment.
“We are accelerating research, improving access to care, and increasing funding for TB programs. Our goal is to ensure that no Lagos resident suffers or dies from this preventable disease due to lack of awareness or access to treatment,” she assured.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, in his remarks, stressed the importance of early detection in preventing TB-related deaths.
“It is heartbreaking when people die from a disease that is both preventable and treatable. TB can be easily detected through screening, and once diagnosed, treatment is free and effective,” he stated.
He acknowledged the efforts of health workers in the fight against TB, commending them for their tireless commitment to screening and treatment services across the state.
“The government has put structures in place to ensure that every person in Lagos, regardless of socioeconomic status, has access to TB screening and treatment. Our goal is to scale up these interventions and reach more communities,” he added.
The Chairman, Office of the First Lady TB Steering Committee, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in achieving zero TB cases in Lagos State.
“We need more partners on board, especially from the private sector, to sustain and expand TB initiatives. The fight against TB requires more financial and human resources, and we must work together to bridge the gaps,” she stated.
Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Vivian Ibeziako commended Lagos State for its commitment to TB control. She highlighted the state’s progress in identifying TB cases, particularly among children, while calling for increased investment and commitment to achieving the 33,000 TB case detection target for the year. She assured that WHO remains a committed partner in the fight against TB.
Medical Advisor for Damien Foundation Belgium, Dr. Omonigho Ogwa, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He emphasized the need to address TB as a social and economic challenge, alongside its medical impact. Ogwa called for collective action to break the stigma and improve access to care, pledging continued support to Lagos State in the fight against TB.
Also speaking, Director of Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Victoria Egunjobi commended stakeholders for their dedication to TB control. She acknowledged the First Lady’s advocacy, the Permanent Secretary’s leadership, and the Steering Committee’s efforts in mobilizing awareness campaigns. She reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to investing in TB services and emphasized plans to involve school children in next year’s awareness activities.
The awareness walk, which preceded the Stakeholders’ Engagement, saw health officials, community leaders, and volunteers marching through the streets of Alausa with banners, music, and placards, chanting anti-TB slogans and distributing educational materials.
Participants engaged passersby in conversations about TB symptoms, prevention, and the availability of free screening and treatment. The event served as a powerful visual statement of the state’s commitment to eradicating TB.
As the event concluded, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to achieving zero TB cases by 2030, aligning with global health goals. With sustained effort, collaboration, and community involvement, Lagos State is set on the path to becoming TB-free, setting a benchmark for other states in Nigeria and beyond.
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