Nigeria Can Eliminate Tuberculosis by 2035 – Remi Tinubu

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria can eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2035, highlighting the vital role of partnerships and innovation in addressing the country’s TB burden. She made this statement on Tuesday during the 2024 National TB Conference in Abuja, which was themed “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: A Panacea to End TB in Nigeria.”

Tinubu commended stakeholders for their ongoing efforts but stressed the need for continued commitment to meet global TB targets.

“Nigeria is currently the country with the highest TB burden in Africa and ranks sixth globally,” she remarked, referencing the 2024 WHO Global Tuberculosis Report, which indicates that Nigeria reported around 467,000 TB cases in 2023. This emphasizes the urgency of a collective response to the disease.

While acknowledging the tough statistics, the First Lady noted the progress made in TB diagnosis and treatment. She attributed this success to the Federal Government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, along with the contributions of civil society organizations and international partners such as USAID and the Global Fund.

“The solution to ending TB lies in the strength of our public and private partnerships, and in the integrated delivery of services that ensure no one is left behind,” she added.

First Lady Tinubu also reaffirmed her personal commitment to eradicating TB, sharing that her earlier donation had been used to acquire diagnostic tools, thereby enhancing case detection and other essential services.

She emphasized the importance of the conference as an opportunity to exchange knowledge, devise strategies, and strengthen the resolve to combat TB in Nigeria.