The Federal Ministry of Health has recorded a noteworthy achievement in the fight against tuberculosis during its annual review meeting of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program held in Lagos from December 4 to December 6, 2023.
Stakeholders in the healthcare sector commended the substantial increase in tuberculosis case detection compared to previous years.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, highlighted the purpose of the three-day review meeting and emphasized that the gathering aimed to assess the ground-level implementation, challenges, and feedback of the efforts made throughout the year to combat tuberculosis.
Dr. Anyaike revealed that significant strides had been made in case detection, with the number of tuberculosis cases escalating from approximately 12,000 cases before COVID-19 to over 285,000 cases by the end of 2022. He projected a further increase by the end of 2023.
“This annual event allows us to evaluate our interventions, identify successes, and address challenges. We have made remarkable progress in tuberculosis case detection, reaching 60 percent coverage by the end of 2022. Despite the global challenges posed by COVID-19, Nigeria has consistently increased case detection, breaking records and positioning itself as a leader in the fight against tuberculosis,” said Dr. Anyaike.
He also announced the ministry’s intention to conduct a national and sub-national tuberculosis prevalence survey to obtain accurate data on the states with the highest tuberculosis burden.
“We are considering a national and sub-national prevalence survey on tuberculosis to rank states based on the burden. Early detection is crucial, as one untreated case can infect up to 15 people a year. Our goal is to cut down transmission chains and liberate Nigeria from the burden of tuberculosis,” he added.
Sokoya Olusola Daniel, Deputy Director of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, stressed the need for increased awareness about tuberculosis symptoms and available treatments. He cited a study revealing that less than 30 percent of the population is aware of the signs and symptoms of TB.
During the event, Bolatito Aiyenigba, Deputy Project Director for Malaria and Tuberculosis at Breakthrough Action Nigeria, expressed concern about the low awareness of tuberculosis symptoms among Nigerians. She emphasized the need for more awareness campaigns to inform the public about available testing and treatment services.
Bethrand Odume, Executive Director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, commended the national tuberculosis program and its partners for the increased effort in tuberculosis case finding. He acknowledged the progress made in closing the gap in case detection, emphasizing the importance of ongoing collaboration and innovation.
Queen Ogbuji, Board Chairman of Stop TB Partnership, recognized Nigeria’s significant progress in meeting the World Health Organization’s targets. However, she urged increased focus on infant TB case notifications and the notification of drug-resistant tuberculosis cases.
The three-day review summit addressed various issues, including strategies to increase infant tuberculosis case detection and raise awareness about free tuberculosis treatment services.
At the review summit, stakeholders also reiterated their commitment towards eradicating tuberculosis in Nigeria and achieving global health targets by 2035.