By Emmanuella Asuquo
Tuberculosis experts have disclosed that $312 million funding gap may rob Nigeria of the chance of eradicating TB from the country by 2030.
Chairman of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Professor Lovett Lawson and Country Representative of Health Policy Plus, Dr Dauda Suleiman Dauda both sounded this warning Tuesday during a Media Briefing on the National TB Conference to sensitize Nigerians on TB control and to advocate for increased funding to tackle the disease in the country.
Dr Dauda Suleiman Dauda further disclosed that already Africa is suffering as a result of $600 million funding gap while Nigeria has $312 million gap in closing up funding for TB eradication.
The health experts explained that the total funding from Nigerian government on TB funding is only 7%, external funding totalling 14%, adding that fund at presently is 24% but Nigeria needs 70% to tackle TB in the country.
Chair, Scientific Committee of National TB Conference, Professor Lawal Umar further disclosed that malnutrition in under five children makes them vulnerable and at high risk of contracting TB.
Professor Lawson, who is also the Chairman of Zankli Medical Centre said, “TB presently is a major public health problem with 8-10 million new cases diagnosed yearly, which translates to 1/3 of the world population with about 95% cases in developing countries.”
“1.6m TB patients die each year which is compounded by the fast spread of HIV/AIDS and poor socio-economic status. Each TB patient is capable of infecting 10-15 persons yearly.”
According to Lawson, the aim of the 2nd National TB is to create an avenue to bring key stakeholders in TB control and the academia together so as to foster access to research, new technologies and innovations in the control of TB in Nigeria.
Also to stimulate the generation of new collaborations for home grown TB research and innovations and create awareness and promote best practices in TB programming in Nigeria, he explained.
