Undernutrition, HIV topmost drivers of TB in Nigeria – FG

The Ministry of Health says undernutrition and HIV remain topmost drivers of tuberculosis burden in Nigeria.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this in Abuja during the 2024 World Tuberculosis Day.

He said TB is a major public health problem in Nigeria and globally, adding that “TB continues to be the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and has caused almost twice as many deaths as HIV/AIDS”

He said an estimated 97,900 TB deaths occurred in Nigeria in 2022, equating to one person dying from TB every five minutes even when the disease is curable and preventable.

The Minister said, efforts at ending the TB epidemic in Nigeria resulted in expansion of TB treatment services (DOTs Centres) to about 22,000 health facilities and GeneXpert requirement-a rapid molecular test for TB-512 as of the end of 2023.

Professor Pate said the federal government will conduct a National Drug-resistant Survey through the support of USAID and partners to determine the actual burden of drug-resistant TB.

He said this would guide the targeted actions in addressing the epidemic of drug-resistant in Nigeria.

The Acting Board Chairman, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, said in recognition of the urgent need for increased advocacy, awareness, and action to eliminate TB scourge, the First Lady and Wives of the State Governors have been identified as critical stakeholders who are committed to leveraging their influence and platforms to raise awareness, mobilise resources, advocate for policy changes, and drive action to strengthen the country’s TB response efforts at national and sub-national levels, as this bring drastic reduction and eradication of the deadly scourge in Nigeria.

-9News Nigeria.