The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to meeting global tuberculosis (TB) targets by 2035. In her address at the 2024 National TB Conference in Abuja, she emphasized that achieving this goal requires continuous investment, innovative strategies, and focused efforts.
She acknowledged that despite progress in tackling TB, the global burden of the disease remains a major challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization’s 2024 TB report, 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million deaths. Nigeria, ranking as the sixth-highest TB burden country globally, accounted for around 467,000 of these cases.
The First Lady highlighted the importance of public and private partnerships in the fight against TB. She also mentioned her donation earlier in the year, which was used to purchase TB diagnostic tools to help improve case detection. Tinubu expressed confidence in the progress made, citing the increasing number of people diagnosed and treated, thanks to the efforts of the government, civil society, healthcare providers, and international partners.
However, she cautioned that there is still much to be done. The federal government, she said, is fully committed to achieving the global TB targets by 2035, but this will require sustained investment, innovative solutions, and a focus on eliminating barriers that prevent people from accessing care.
Tinubu, who serves as the Global and National Stop TB Champion, reiterated that the solution to ending TB lies in strengthening partnerships and integrating services to ensure no one is left behind. She also praised health workers, community leaders, and TB survivors for their dedication and hard work in the ongoing fight against TB. She expressed her confidence that with collective efforts, Nigeria will contribute to the global fight to eradicate TB.
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