Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, on Monday announced the donation of N1 billion under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RNI) to strengthen the fight against tuberculosis in the country.
Tinubu, while speaking at an event marking the 2025 World Tuberculosis Day, held at Sauka Village, Abuja urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the Federal Government facilities and get tested to know their TB status.
She said ending TB by 2030 is a collective responsibility of government, traditional and religious leaders, legislators, the youth, healthcare workers, private sector organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs) and international partners.
The first lady, who described statistics from reports on tuberculosis as alarming, noted that at least one person dies from the disease in every seven months
“The statistics from the World Health Organization’s 2024 Global TB Report are alarming. In Nigeria, one person dies of TB every seven minutes. This means that, in the short time we will spend at this event, many more lives will be lost, if we do not act swiftly and decisively”, she noted.
Oluremi Tinubu pointed out that the high prevalence of TB in Nigeria is unacceptable and all hands must be on deck to fight the treatable and curable airborne disease.
“At this juncture, I would like to pledge an additional sum of One Billion Naira from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) towards the fight against Tuberculosis in Nigeria”.
Read also: FG confirms record 400,000 TB cases in 2024
“As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, I reaffirm my commitment to addressing the scourge of TB in our nation. I will continue to advocate for increased funding and policy reforms to strengthen TB control efforts, and mobilize resources and partnerships to support TB awareness and treatment programs.
” n addition, I will continue to amplify the voices of TB survivors and fight against stigma and discrimination, and ensure that women, children, and marginalized groups have equal access to TB care”, she added.
She also urged Governments across all levels to prioritise expanding TB testing and treatment centres across Nigeria with the aim of ensuring that TB treatment remains free and accessible to all, strengthening community-based healthcare system to reach the most vulnerable populations, and enhancing funding and partnerships to scale up TB control programs.
Earlier, Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, pointed out that the target of eradicating TB in Nigeria by 2030 is doable especially as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the Ministry marching orders to ramp up the health and well-being of Nigerians.
In direct response to the request of the Sapeyi of Garki, Usman Kupi for a Primary Health Centre in Sauka Community, the first lady assured them that it would be done as she had a quick discussion with the Minister on the issue.
There was a health talk on the causes, symptoms, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis.
There was also testing for the disease at the Community Outreach.
The theme for the 2025 “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver” with our local slogan “We Fit Do Am,”.
