Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday highlighted the alarming toll of Tuberculosis (TB) in the country, revealing that one person dies from the disease every seven minutes, despite it being preventable and curable.
Tinubu made this statement during a community outreach event in Sauka, Abuja, held to commemorate the 2025 World TB Day, themed, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” with the slogan “We fit do am.”
World TB Day, observed annually on March 24, aims to raise awareness about TB and mobilize global efforts to secure political and financial commitments for its elimination.
In her address, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of addressing TB as a national health emergency.
She stated, “Beyond being a disease, TB is a national emergency that needs to be addressed urgently because it is preventable and curable.
The statistics from the World Health Organisation’s 2024 Global TB Report are alarming.
In Nigeria, one person dies of TB every seven minutes.
This means that during this event, many more lives will be lost if we do not act swiftly and decisively.”
She pointed out that despite the availability of treatment and prevention methods, Nigeria continues to rank among the top eight countries globally with the highest TB burden.
“It is unacceptable that so many of our brothers and sisters still suffer from this disease in silence due to stigma, lack of awareness, and failure to seek medical help in time,” she added.
Tinubu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling TB through strategic investments in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
She called on various sectors of society, including traditional and religious leaders, legislators, youth, healthcare workers, NGOs, private sector organizations, and international partners, to unite in the fight against TB.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Tinubu reaffirmed her personal commitment to advancing TB efforts.
She pledged to advocate for increased funding, policy reforms, and resource mobilization for TB awareness and treatment.
Additionally, she promised to amplify the voices of TB survivors, combat stigma, and ensure equal access to TB care for marginalized groups, particularly women and children.
“I encourage every Nigerian to join this fight.
TB is curable, and early detection saves lives.
Let us work together to remove the stigma surrounding TB, encourage testing, and support those affected.
TB is airborne, and since it is contagious, I urge everyone to get tested, know your TB status, and encourage your loved ones to do the same.
If you have a persistent cough for more than two weeks, do not ignore it but seek medical help immediately,” she added.
Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Acting Board Chair of the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, also emphasized the seriousness of TB as a public health issue, particularly in remote communities where access to diagnosis and treatment is limited.
She assured the community that TB is preventable and curable, and treatment is available at no cost in government health facilities.
“The goal of today’s community outreach is to bring TB information and services closer to the residents of Sauka.
We want to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against TB.
This platform allows them to learn about TB, ask questions, get tested, and spread the message that TB can be defeated,” she said.
Ogbuji-Ladipo stressed the need for increased resource mobilization to combat TB effectively, advocating for more funding to ensure better access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately saving lives and improving community health.
Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, highlighted that TB remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, ranking first in Africa and sixth globally among high-burden TB countries.
He noted that in 2023, an estimated 499,000 Nigerians developed TB, disproportionately affecting the productive age group (25–44 years), leading to significant economic hardships.
Despite the challenges, Salako mentioned that Nigeria has made notable progress in TB eradication, thanks to the implementation of WHO-recommended strategies.
Dr. Walter Molumbo, Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, reiterated WHO’s commitment to accelerating the TB response, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing both domestic and international resources to end TB in Nigeria.
He urged anyone experiencing a persistent cough for more than two weeks to get tested at the nearest health facility.
The Sa’Peyi of Garki, Usman Nga Kupi, also weighed in on the need for sustained global efforts to eliminate TB.
He underscored that awareness programs are critical to ensuring increased and sustained investment in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care, which would benefit those yet to be infected as well as those already affected.
In conclusion, the event served as a call to action for Nigerians to join forces in the fight against TB, with a strong focus on early detection, treatment, and breaking the stigma surrounding the disease.
