As the world celebrates 2025 Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), and stakeholders gathered in Lagos for a media roundtable to unite efforts, raise awareness, and boost funding to end Tuberculosis by 2035.
In a powerful push to eradicate Tuberculosis, JAAIDS, alongside experts and stakeholders, convened a one-day media roundtable in Lagos to mark World TB Day 2025, themed “Commit, Invest, and Deliver.”
The event, supported by the AURUM Institute and UNITAID, aimed to galvanize public action, reduce stigmatization, and enhance access to TB treatment, as advocates emphasized the urgent need for awareness, funding, and community engagement to meet the global target.
Health experts and stakeholders called on the general public to come out in their numbers to access TB treatment, stating the need to reduce stigmatization of TB.
Dr. Victoria Egunjobi, Director of Disease Control at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, stressed the need for a system ensuring easy access to TB facilities, suggesting expanded access so people don’t have to travel far for services.
“We want a system that works in such a way that when someone is ill and needs treatment, one doesn’t need to go far or call somebody before accessing care. Such person should be able to get to the facility and get dignified care,” she said.
She noted the need for funding, saying, “it’s obvious that we need funding, if we can equally optimum the assess we currently have on ground, however, there are facilities that are begging for clients,”
“When the TB van is going in for screening services in the community, we need to ensure that people come out because if the TB Van goes in and nobody comes out it is also wasting the little resources that we have,” she added.
She urged health workers not to stigmatize patients and committed to securing funding.
“We will continue as a government to try to ensure that we always have committed funding in our budget. I’m saying this as a government, we know that we should do better, but working with our partners, we are trying to ensure that we put our funding down. We know that it’s not enough but we will continue to thrive and work until we end TB,” she promised. .
Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, Permanent secretary, Lagos State Health District 6, Chairperson of the first Lady’s TB steering committee expressed concern on awareness especially at the grassroots.
While explaining what the steering committee have been doing regarding awareness, Mabogunje said that, “the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu being the state TB champion, in October last year, had an investiture of the wives of the local government chairmen and the female chairman, the stop TB Partnership in Lagos and also of the first lady TB steering committees and that gave the impetus to go out to do some field works since then we’ve created a lot of awareness especially in the grassroots.”
She stated that the committee has gone round most of the local government areas in the state to spread awareness of the disease.
She highlighted the symptoms of TB disease, saying, “if anybody is coughing for more than two weeks, losing weight, fever or night sweats, such a person should go to the nearest healthcare centre or general hospital or designated centres for test and treatment of Tuberculosis.”
Dr. Olusola Sokoya, Deputy Director and State TB and Leprosy Control Programme Manager, explained why TB is still existing in Lagos and how the challenges are being addressed.
He identified stigmatization as one of the major reasons TB is yet to be eradicated in the state. He urged residents to reduce stigmatization, noting that it will drastically reduce the outbreak of the disease by 50%.
“There is a global target to eradicate TB which is by 2035. Although, we can not totally eradicate it but we can actually reduce the incidence of TB to about less than 10% by 2035 so, we can only achieve it if we all work together to ensure we End TB,” he added.
Dr. Ime Okon, Medical Director/CEO Ibeju Lekki General Hospital and Secretary, Lagos State Stop TB Partnership, also emphasized on stigmatization as a big challenge that makes it looks as if the awareness created is not enough.
She encouraged stakeholders to keep pushing and employ new strategies to navigate the challenges faced in combating the disease.
Mrs. Kadir Oluseyi, Coordinator of TB People Nigeria and a co-infected individual with HIV and TB, outlined strategies being used to enhance partnerships in the fight to end TB in Lagos State.
“We collaborate with local health facilities and workers to support newly diagnosed TB patients at the start of their treatment, offering encouragement through our survival stories,” said the Coordinator of TB People Nigeria. “By partnering with the state program, TB survivors amplify the voice of TB and motivate others to seek medication.”
Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Services, urged journalists to stay committed and inform the public about the government’s efforts to end TB in Lagos, as well as areas for improvement.
He said, “We shouldn’t get tired; journalists must explore new ways to contribute and stay committed.
“While the media is doing a lot, limited resources hold us back. Partnerships aren’t just about money—they’re about participation and interest. The media should clarify what individuals can do and highlight inefficiencies for government organizations, helping maximize efforts to end TB.”
Dr. Vivian Ibeziako, WHO’s National Professional Officer for TB/Epidemiology in the South West Zone, emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships with the government and local stakeholders to enhance the fight against TB in Lagos, stating, “Apart from providing technical assistance, we also have the opportunity to have WHO officers within the state that we can leverage on. And the WHO office is willing and ready to work with us in this area.”
Olayide Akanni urged journalists to keep writing and discussing TB issues, emphasizing, “From what we’ve heard, it’s a socioeconomic issue, not just tied to one day. As long as we breathe, people can be exposed to TB, which is why we must come together to address it.”