Experts have urged the National Assembly to prioritise health financing, strengthen oversight and support policies that promote sustainable funding and accountability for HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria interventions.

They identified frequent stock-outs of essential medicines and diagnostic commodities, shortages of skilled healthcare workers, weak health infrastructure, limited access to quality services in underserved communities and high out-of-pocket and transportation costs as major challenges affecting TB and malaria programmes in Nigeria.

The call was made during the National Advocacy-Focused Media Dissemination Meeting in Abuja, organised by the Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria (TB Network) on behalf of the ATM Networks, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN).

The meeting focused on advancing accountability for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Senior Programme Manager of ACOMIN, Mrs Fatima Kolo, said findings from the group’s community-led monitoring initiative revealed persistent challenges affecting access to quality HIV, TB and malaria services despite notable progress.

She explained that through the Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) initiative, the ATM Networks, TB Network, NEPWHAN and ACOMIN have worked with communities to gather evidence on the realities of accessing HIV, TB and malaria services, adding that the findings highlighted both achievements and areas requiring urgent attention.

According to Kolo, the HIV response continues to be affected by stigma and discrimination, delays in viral load testing and result turnaround, gaps in treatment retention and continuity of care, as well as limited awareness and uptake of HIV prevention services among priority populations.

She said the TB programme faces delayed diagnosis and treatment initiation, inadequate access to diagnostic services, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities, periodic shortages of TB medicines and laboratory commodities, and weak infection prevention and control measures in some health facilities.

On malaria, Kolo identified frequent stock-outs of antimalarial medicines and rapid diagnostic test kits, inadequate access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets and other preventive commodities, and weaknesses in disease surveillance and timely response.

She noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in combating HIV, TB and malaria through the collective efforts of government, civil society, communities and development partners, many Nigerians still face barriers to timely, equitable and quality healthcare.

According to her, the findings underscore the need for sustained investment in resilient health systems, uninterrupted access to essential medicines and diagnostics, meaningful community engagement and stronger accountability mechanisms.

“The evidence shows encouraging progress in community engagement, collaboration between health facilities and service users, and greater responsiveness to community concerns. At the same time, it highlights persistent challenges, including shortages of health workers, frequent stock-outs of essential medicines and diagnostics, stigma and discrimination, weak health infrastructure and barriers that continue to limit equitable access to quality healthcare,” she said.

Kolo described the media as strategic partners in promoting informed, evidence-based reporting capable of advancing public awareness, fostering accountability, influencing policy dialogue and supporting positive social change in Nigeria’s response to HIV, TB and malaria.

She urged the Federal Government to increase domestic investment in health, improve the availability of essential medicines and diagnostic commodities, strengthen primary healthcare systems and integrate community-generated evidence into health planning, budgeting and decision-making.

She also called on all stakeholders to translate community evidence into practical actions that strengthen health systems, improve service delivery and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

Kolo appealed to the media to amplify community voices, highlight both progress and persistent gaps and encourage informed public dialogue that drives accountability and action.

She stressed that building a resilient health system requires collective responsibility, with government, communities, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and the media working together to sustain gains and ensure equitable, people-centred HIV, TB and malaria services.

Also speaking, Programme Manager of TB Network, Theresa Jatau, said gaps in human resources, commodities and health infrastructure continue to undermine service delivery and public confidence.

She noted that recurring shortages of HIV, TB and malaria commodities disrupt treatment and prevention efforts, while limited government financing poses a long-term threat to the sustainability of disease control programmes.

Jatau also expressed concern over the rising cost of malaria treatment, particularly in the South-South and South-East, warning that the trend is pushing many patients towards informal and unregulated sources of care.