Dr. Gafar Alawoye, Managing Partner, DGI Consult has called on governments at all levels to explore opportunities from the private sector as part of measures to address the funding gap for tuberculosis.
Dr. Alawoye made this known at the media parley organized by Lagos State Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Control Programme in collaboration with Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), as part of activities to commemorate World TB Day 2022 with the theme “Invest to Prevent TB. Save Lives.”
The consultant shared that the need to harness the private sector potential for bridging the TB resource gap is borne out of the numerous challenges of funding TB treatment, stressing that, Nigeria has a low TB treatment coverage rate.
He mentioned that “we need more investment in TB because out-of-pocket payment is neither a feasible nor an equitable option for raising more revenue as evidence suggest that 60% of TB patients live below the poverty line, more than half of TB patients had to rely on loan and selling of personal properties to afford treatment while 69% and 89% of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB patients face impoverishing catastrophic cost of TB treatment.”
He however noted that “it is not enough to mobilize more money for TB, we also need to ensure the effectiveness of resource utilization. Therefore, we need to raise the accountability bar for TB funding to ensure maximum value for the money.”
He urged civil society organizations and media to continue to hold the government accountable and ensure the necessary funding support is being effectively managed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye shared that the Lagos State Government has been working assiduously to reduce TB rates in the state, adding that, “it has become pertinent to increase general awareness, ensure effective service delivery, including diagnosis, treatment, and care by improving access to TB diagnosis and treatment services.”
He disclosed that “the Lagos State Ministry of Health through the support of Global fund have DOTS Centres, Community care workers, 18 X-ray machines, Gene Xpert sites in all the 20 LGAs of the State and have launched three (3) mobile X-ray vans to increase active case search in the State thereby increasing case finding, diagnosis and free treatment of diagnosed cases and is accessible to “ALL”.
To drive more impact in the fight against TB in Lagos, Dr. Ogboye appealed to members of the public to “invest your resources by volunteering or donating in events that are held to spread awareness and to raise funds for Tuberculosis.”
Sharing her story, Dr. Tolu Akinkumi who survived TB, explained that TB is preventable and curable, it can affect anybody regardless of socio-status, education level, or career path.
Akinkumi, who mentioned that she contracted TB despite being a medical doctor that maintained a high level of hygiene, urged members of the public to be open about their cases and go for treatment as when due.
She said though there is stigmatization against people who have TB, she encouraged people to get treated as TB is curable and preventable.