TB: Lagos to build infectious disease institute – Sanwo-Olu

To prepare for the next pandemic and curtail spread of Tuberculosis (TB), Lagos State is planning to build an Infectious Disease Research Institute.

Speaking at a dinner organied by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, as part of the High-Level Mission on Domestic Resource Mobilisation to end TB in the country, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu revealed that TB is the 13th leading cause of deaths globally.

According to him, the essence of governance is to make life better for the citizens.

His words: “We have increased our budget for health generally because of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), so we will increase our budget for TB.”

Nigeria is the 6th in the world on issues around TB. We are also going to build our own Infectious Disease Research Institute, a world-class institute, so that when another pandemic occurs, Lagos will be ready.

“We are making additional commitment. We need to increase our engagement with the private sector. Government cannot do it alone. Everybody must be involved. We need collaboration and cooperation. We will be converting COVID-19 infectious hospital to a TB patient hospital, where we will take care of patients.”

Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership Geneva, Mrs. Lucica Ditiu, disclosed that TB kills 18 people every hour in Nigeria, more than HIV or malaria, but very few people pay attention to it

She noted: “It is spread through air and can infect anybody. There is no shame or fear to be diagnosed of TB because it is curable.”

The organisation is also trying to engage the private sector, because they are great partners in the fight against TB. “People affected by TB are in the workforce, so there is a big impact in business.”

The governor was also named as Africa’s Tuberculosis Eradication Champion because of his interest in the fight against TB.