High-level TB mission decries rise in childhood transmission
Efforts at ending Tuberculosis by 2030 received a push as Stop TB Partnership Geneva, and Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, in collaboration with other stakeholders embarked on a High-level Mission on Domestic Resource Mobilisation to End Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
The Mission led by the Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership Geneva, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, identified an increase in childhood TB, a huge financial gap, and Drug Resistant (DR-TB) and community transmission issues among others, as major challenges facing TB eradication in Nigeria.
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Speaking during a meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Executive Director stressed the need for Nigeria to close the huge financial gap and improve diagnostics through priority funding of state governments.
Ditiu noted that Nigeria needs to have an online live data platform where the progress can be centrally monitored and commended the country for strides achieved in the last two years.
Also speaking, Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji, stated that changing the narrative of financial funding would require commitment and a joint effort by parliamentarians, the ministry of finance, as well as the ministry of health.
She, however, urged the Federal Government to make office accommodation a priority so that funding from the Global Fund would be reserved exclusively for programmatic use.
On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who acknowledged that TB needed more support, promised to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance, the parliament, and also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“We will explore all avenues to see how more resources can be mobilised for the fight against TB,” he promised.
The minister who commended Stop TB Partnership said that the ministry had also started a partnership with the private sector to improve TB testing in the country.
