By Justina Auta
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for the expansion of health insurance coverage to vulnerable Nigerians, particularly the poor and unemployed, to strengthen the fight against Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and malaria.
They made the call at an FCT media meeting on the Global Fund GC7 Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (I-CLM) Project for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Thursday in Abuja.
The project is being implemented by ATM Networks in collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria to address gaps in the health systems and infrastructure for sustainable health outcomes.
Mr Nathaniel Salifu-King, FCT State Chair of the TB Network, said poverty, limited access to healthcare and high out-of-pocket medical expenses remained major barriers to prevention and treatment.
Salifu-King noted that Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of TB, HIV and malaria globally, and that socioeconomic inequalities continue to fuel infections and poor outcomes.
He said the National and State Health Insurance programmes enjoyed by workers in the formal sector should be extended to vulnerable populations.
“The poor are often less educated and unemployed and cannot consequently pay out-of-pocket for the high costs associated with accessing healthcare services.
“The National/State Health Insurance programme enjoyed by the formal sector should be extended to other vulnerable citizens, particularly the poor,” he added.
He also called on philanthropists, community stakeholders and governments at all levels to support the Integrated Community-Led Monitoring mechanism to improve healthcare delivery and accountability.
Salifu-King urged the Federal Government to urgently address TB commodity and drug stock-outs through the release of funds for procurement and distribution.
“On TB commodities and drug stock-outs, we call on the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Honourable Minister of Finance to urgently address the situation,” he said.
“This is necessary to avoid undue exposure to TB infection and the risk of multidrug-resistant TB,” he added.
He further stressed the need for transparency in primary healthcare financing, increased health education and stronger community participation in disease control.
Speaking on the I-CLM project, Salifu-King said it had recorded successes in the FCT including donations of medical consumables and infrastructure support to PHCs.
He said that other successes included the commencement of TB services at Sabon Gari PHC, improved confidentiality at Ushafa PHC and increased uptake of TB, HIV and malaria services.
Also speaking, Mr Samuel Simon, State Programme Officer, TB Network, said advocacy and community engagement were critical amid declining international funding.
“The only thing we have is to hold the government accountable. We are conducting advocacy visits so stakeholders can contribute their quota regarding ATM services, GBV response and strengthening systems,” he said.
Ms Goodness Madueke, Assistant Advocacy Officer, FCT Malaria Elimination Programme, said malaria prevalence in the FCT declined from 18.8 per cent in 2018 to 7.9 per cent due to collaboration.
She, however, expressed concern that about 70 per cent of Nigerians still pay out-of-pocket for healthcare, which pushes people into poverty.
Mrs Evelyn Eze of the FCT Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme said the I-CLM initiative had improved case finding and TB response, but more support was needed to expand coverage.
The meeting emphasised the need for stronger health systems, increased domestic financing, sustained community engagement and renewed political commitment to tackle TB, HIV, malaria and GBV in Nigeria. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
2026-06-18
