The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, says the country diagnosed over 300,000 tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2023, marking the first time in its history that such a high number is recorded.
Pate spoke at the 37th STOP TB Partnership Board Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the 37th board meeting, a presentation was made by the Stop TB Partnership regarding the TB perspective and their efforts to ensure increased and impactful Global Fund investments in TB.
Nigeria, along with other countries and civil society board members, shared their interventions, detailing their experiences and perspectives with the Global Fund.
“In 2023, Nigeria diagnosed over 300,000 TB cases for the first time in its history, reducing the missing case gap and positioning the country to achieve its 2025 National Strategic Plan targets.
“At the 2023 UN High-level Meeting (UN HLM) on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Nigeria reached about 70 per cent of its cumulative target and approximately 90 per cent of the 2022 target,” he said.
While acknowledging the progress made, he said that the country remained committed to reaching a 100 per cent treatment coverage rate and increasing TB preventive therapy (TPT) coverage.
He said that the country was also documenting strategic initiatives and best practices to address case-finding challenges in a high-burden country.
“The achievements in Nigeria’s TB control programme would not have been possible without the support of partners such as USAID, GFATM, WHO, Stop TB Partnership, CDC, DoD, and Civil Society Organisations.
“The programme staff, especially the front-line workers, were also recognised for their dedication in providing TB services, even during emergencies and crises,” he said.
