Governors seek FG’s support for states to achieve targets on TB

• …Bemoan 18 deaths being recorded in Nigeria daily

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Disturbed by the estimated eighteen (18) deaths being recorded in the country on daily basis, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has reaffirmed it’s commitment to work with other stakeholders to end TB in the respective States.
The NGF made the commitment in a statement yesterday by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayofe Fsyemi in Abuja.
The forum, which is an umbrella body for the Governors of the 36 States in the country, has similarly called on the Federal Government to provide necessary support to the States to be able to domesticate and achieve the targets and commitments made at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Tuberculosis held in 2018.
These targets and commitments, according to the Governors expect that by 2022, “we will be back on track in our efforts to ensure we are able to end TB by 2030”
Currently, Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of TB, ranking first in Africa and sixth globally.
It is estimated that about 18 Nigerians die of TB everyday which translates to 432 people monthly and 157,000 yearly.
Over the last decade, government and partners have implemented various interventions to ensure that people with TB are found and treated.
The NGF’s statement reads in part, “Today (yesterday), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum joins the rest of the world to commemorate the World Tuberculosis Day.
“This day provides the opportunity for the entire world to intensify public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic impact of tuberculosis, as well as renew our commitment to accelerate efforts at the national, state, local government and community levels to eradicate TB in Nigeria.
“Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that affects millions of people regardless of socio-economic status. Though it is preventable and curable, it has remained the deadliest infectious disease globally.
“Currently, Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of TB, ranking first in Africa and sixth globally.
“It is estimated that about 18 Nigerians die of TB everyday which translates to 432 people monthly and 157,000 yearly.
“Over the last decade, government and partners have implemented various interventions to ensure that people with TB are found and treated.
“However, the advent of Covid-19 pandemic and its control measures in 2020 further impacted on the health system including TB services, setting back progress made.
“Despite this setback, the government in partnership with other stakeholders are working to address these challenges by: strengthening the capacity of State TB Program to be more effective in its role; support revitalization and upgrading of health facilities to provide appropriate TB services especially diagnosis; mobilize more domestic resources for TB program and activities
in the State and to establish a multi-stakeholder State Stop TB Partnerships.
“Therefore, in accordance with the theme of this year’s World TB Day – “The Clock is Ticking”, we reaffirm our commitment to work with other stakeholders to end TB in our respective States.