In order to financially support the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) and reach the goal of eradicating it by 2030, the federal government has secured a funding agreement of $50 million with the Private Sector to bridge the funding gap. Presently, the National TB budget relies on foreign funding for 94 percent of its resources, resulting in a 70 percent deficit that is delaying the rollout of new TB initiatives and achieving the goals outlined in the 2021-2026 TB National Strategic Plan. Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced in Lagos that the federal government would invest $25 million to support the private sector’s $25 million pledge to the initiative.
During the launch event for the Private Sector Strategy to End the Infection in the country, organised by the Stop Tuberculosis Nigeria Partnership, He emphasised the importance of private sector participation in ending the diseases. The goal is to unite the public and private sectors collaboratively to eradicate it. Nigerian millionaires and billionaires have been encouraged to mobilise domestic resources and other philanthropic investments to contribute $25 million to projects matched by the government and development partners. He added that working together will ensure the optimal and transparent use of resources, with a comprehensive system to track progress.
Collaborative effort is needed to eradicate the infection nationwide.
Their plan involves a collaborative effort between the federal government, state governments, the private sector, and development partners. By working together, they believe it is possible to eradicate the diseases, although they acknowledge that this will be a lengthy process. Pate mentioned that the country needs over $25 million to eliminate the infection, highlighting the various organisations backing the nation’s endeavours. The country is working to combat HIV, TB, and Malaria with support from the Global Fund. The government is increasing its financial contributions and plans to do more.
However, challenges may arise as more cases are detected, leading to potential difficulties in obtaining necessary treatment starting next year. The federal government is expected to increase its efforts in 2025, but it also encourages the private sector to step up as it employs many individuals. By 2030, the Sustainable Development Goal aims to decrease infection deaths by 90% and lower new cases per 100,000 population by 80% from levels in 2015. Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, the Public Health Director at the Federal Ministry of Health, cautioned that the country could face a crisis with increased tuberculosis patients by early 2025.
Private sector crucial in fighting the TB burden amidst funding challenges.
He emphasised the urgent need for private sector engagement in combating it, urging for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to tackle the looming healthcare challenge. Dr. Walter Mulombo, World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria’s Representative, emphasised the private sector’s crucial role in achieving universal tuberculosis coverage. The private sector must provide comprehensive TB and other healthcare services in the country. Budget cuts over the years have reached about 70%, leading to a lack of widespread implementation of effective interventions tailored to the local population, leaving many in need of care without access.
During a talk, Dr. Amos Omoniyi, the National Programme Officer for TB at WHO, highlighted that the country ranks among the top 30 countries worldwide with the highest tuberculosis burden. He attributed the funding shortfall to reliance on donors, inadequate treatment availability, and restricted access to diagnostic resources. In 2022, Nigeria reported about 479,000 cases of the disease, making it the country with the highest burden of the disease in Africa. Every minute, a new case of the infection is diagnosed, while someone loses their life to it every five minutes. 97,900 people lost their lives to the disease in 2022, accounting for 23 percent of all tuberculosis deaths on the continent.
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The private sector is anticipated to utilise local resources to fill the budget shortfall and acquire extra molecular WHO Rapid diagnostic tools. This will enable complete coverage of the LGAs and universal coverage with the TB diagnostic tool. Omoniyi referenced the latest National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Control from 2024 to 2026, stating that Nigeria needs $1.21 trillion to manage and control tuberculosis. He highlighted that in 2023, through private sector investments in 15 facilities across the country, one in each state, 3,492 TB cases were identified, and 829 deaths were averted.