Oluremi Tinubu - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Lydia Beshel
Mar, Mon, 2025

First Lady seeks collective commitment, investment to end TB

250 total views today

By Celine-Damilola Oyewole

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has called for collective commitment and investment in ending the deadly Tuberculosis (TB) disease.

Tinubu, who is the National and Global Stop TB Champion, made the call in her message on Monday on the occasion of the 2025 TB Day with theme: “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”.

The first lady called on stakeholders to invest in free treatment for TB patients in order to save lives.

She said that TB treatment in Nigeria was free.

”I urge you to approach any hospital for free tests and treatments.

”The TB menace can be conquered in Nigeria and globally if necessary actions are taken towards combating it.

“Today, I join the global community in reaffirming our commitment to ending one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, TB.

“Tuberculosis is curable, and early treatment saves lives,” she said.

The first lady urged those who have persistent coughs which have lasted more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fever, to visit the nearest health facility for free TB testing and treatment.

She enjoined all Nigerians to take TB seriously and go for proper treatment immediately they suspect any symptoms or are directed to do so.

“We are reminded that winning the fight against TB is possible when we unite our efforts, invest in proven solutions, and ensure the delivery of life-saving interventions to all who need them.

“As the National and Global Stop TB Champion, I take this responsibility with deep personal commitment. The fight against TB is not just a policy issue, it is personal,” she said.

NAN reports that the day, observed annually on March 24, amplifies the urgency of ending tuberculosis—the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the African region recorded the steepest decline globally in tuberculosis (TB) deaths since 2015, inspite of falling short of key milestones to significantly lower the burden of the disease and end its toll on health and lives.

Deaths from TB fell by 42 per cent between 2015 and 2023 while cases declined by 24 per cent over the same period, according to the WHO Global TB Report 2024.

The reductions were mainly due to increased efforts by countries to reinforce case detection and provision of treatment, thus averting deaths.

About 1.9 million cases were detected in 2023 compared with 1.4 million in 2020.

Over the same period, the WHO said, treatment coverage rose from 55 per cent to 74 per cent across the region.

NAN also reports that the the report showed that Nigeria ranked first in Africa and sixth globally among the 30 high burden tuberculosis countries.

According to the report, 499,000 Nigerians developed TB in 2023, with more than 400,000 cases identified and treated in 2024, translating to 79 per cent treatment coverage. (NAN)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Healthcare: First Lady advocate sustainable funding in Africa

Ismail Abdulaziz
Feb, Fri, 2025

Foreign

Healthcare: First Lady advocate sustainable funding in Africa

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By Celine-Damilola Oyewole

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for sustainable financial allocations and support to promote healthcare services in Africa.

The first lady said this on Friday in Addis Ababa during her presentation at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first lady spoke on the topic “Engagement of First Ladies to support sustainable Financing for Health in Africa”.

The AU session is holding between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16.

The first lady said healthcare support was essential to the well-being of the people and the future of the continent.

“Our aspirations for progress, economic growth, and social stability remain unattainable without a robust healthcare system.

“In spite of our collective efforts to ensure access to essential healthcare services, millions of Africans still lack quality healthcare, and preventable diseases continue to claim lives.”

Tinubu said that before Africa can achieve sustainable health financing, there was an urgent need for quality health services without imposing financial hardships on individuals or households.

This, according to her, means that sustainable financing goes beyond merely increasing funds for health but to ensure that resources are mobilised, allocated, and utilised efficiently for both short, medium, and long-term impact.

“In 2001, Heads of State met in Abuja to declare an intention to increase budgetary allocation to Health services to 15 per cent annually, more than 20 years after this declaration, many countries still struggle to fulfil this commitment.”

She urged Africa to stop relying solely on donor funding and foreign aids, due to its unpredictable and unsustainable nature.

“Instead, we must develop innovative financing strategies tailored to our unique challenges and circumstances.

“Given the increasing funding gap for health on the continent, I urge us all to commit to advocating for increased national health budgets in line with the Abuja Declaration. Our governments should allocate at least 15 per cent of their budgetary allocations to health.

“We must also support innovative financing mechanisms and explore sustainable models, such as expanding health insurance coverage, health endowment funds, and investments from the African diaspora.

“Accountability and transparency must be ensured, as funds allocated to health must be used efficiently and effectively.

“We must continue to work closely with all levels of government, the private sector, civil society and development partners to increase financing for health and strengthen our health systems,” Tinubu said.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz