TB Network urges FG, states to raise domestic funding for TB control - Punch Newspapers

The National Coordinator of the Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria (TB Network) has urged the Federal and State Governments to mobilise domestic funding to bridge the huge funding gap in tuberculosis services, scale up tuberculosis case finding and place patients on treatment.

The TB Network said improved domestic funding for TB would help the country achieve its goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2030.

The TB Network National Coordinator, Olayide Akanni, stressed the need for the federal and state governments to take greater responsibility for funding TB programmes rather than depend largely on support from international development partners.

She made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing three-day training of journalists on drug-resistant tuberculosis coverage and reporting.

The training, attended by more than 20 media professionals from various platforms in 12 states, along with partners, was organised by the TB Network under the Community-Driven Approach for Transformative Change to Combat Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (COMBAT DR-TB) Project, to build the capacity of journalists to communicate effective and accurate information on drug-resistant tuberculosis to the public.

The training seeks to increase public awareness, reduce stigma, strengthen the role of media in Nigeria’s TB response, and promote advances in drug-resistant TB management.

TB is a communicable disease that affects the lungs and is caused by bacteria spread through the air when infected persons cough, sneeze, spit, or laugh boisterously, according to the World Health Organisation.

WHO noted that TB remains one of the world’s top infectious killer diseases, with more than 10 million annual infections and one million deaths.

Nigeria ranks first in TB burden in Africa and number six in the world.

Despite Nigeria accounting for the high burden of the disease, the country still has a 70 per cent funding gap in TB, with only six per cent of the National TB budget coming from domestic sources.

Although HIV, TB, and malaria programmes in Nigeria are largely donor-funded, the 2025 cuts to aid programmes by the United States Government have led to calls by stakeholders for increased domestic financing for health interventions.

For 2026, the Federal Government earmarked about N73.4bn for the procurement of TB drugs and other medical commodities to avert potential stock-outs nationwide.

In the same year, the government committed $346m in co-financing for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes, though the proportion allocated specifically to TB was not disclosed.

This is coming at a time when Nigeria is experiencing rising cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis, including multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant strains.

But speaking at the training, the TB Network national coordinator urged FG and states to make TB control a priority in their annual budgets and ensure that allocated funds were released and properly utilised.

According to her, increased domestic investment was essential to sustaining progress against TB and reducing preventable deaths.

“There are drug shortages, stock-outs, and other challenges. The governments should invest in TB response.

“Donor funding has reduced drastically, and those still funding are now asking questions about domestic funding commitment and sustainability. The state governments should allocate resources for TB control and ensure prompt release of the allocation,” she said.

Speaking on the need for stronger media engagement, Akanni urged journalists to sustain media attention on tuberculosis to address underreporting, inadequate funding and stigma surrounding the disease.

Akanni said tuberculosis remained a major public health concern despite progress in Nigeria’s response, urging journalists to develop a sustained interest in reporting TB.

“We want TB to become your passion. Why? Because TB is underreported. TB is underfunded. There are a lot of challenges, even though there has been a lot of progress in the TB response in Nigeria,” she said.

The TB Network national coordinator expressed concern over preventable deaths associated with the disease, stressing the need to change the narrative through more consistent reporting and public awareness.

“We are losing a lot of lives unnecessarily because of TB in Nigeria, and we need to change that narrative,” she said.

Akanni also identified stigma as a major challenge facing people affected by tuberculosis, noting that the discrimination was more pronounced among those with drug-resistant TB.

“There is still a lot of stigma surrounding tuberculosis in Nigeria. When you now talk about drug-resistant tuberculosis, the stigma is a notch higher. We really need to address this through our reporting and communication,” she said.

Experts say drug-resistant TB occurs when the TB bacterium no longer responds to one or more of the standard antibiotics used to treat it.

Akanni called on journalists to use their platforms to improve public understanding of the disease and challenge misconceptions that could discourage people from seeking care.

She urged media organisations to move beyond occasional reports tied to commemorative events like World TB Day and maintain regular coverage of tuberculosis and the challenges affecting its control.

“One of the things I have observed over time is that TB only gets a lot of attention around World TB Day, which is March 24, and after that, everything is as though it has gone quiet until the next World TB Day. We really need to challenge that narrative,” she said.

Speaking on drivers of drug-resistant TB, the Head of Training Department, National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Zaria, Kaduna State, Dr. Eunice Jiya-Chitumu, said resistance develops when patients stop treatment before the full course, miss or interrupt doses, and use the wrong drugs, doses, or supply.

She, however, clarifies that the three criteria are usually fuelled by health-system failures.

Jiya-Chitumu said both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB are curable, clarifying that TB can affect anybody.

“TB can affect anybody. It is not a disease of the poor. As long as you breathe, anyone can have TB,” she said.

Also speaking, the DRTB Program/Technical Officer, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Adebayo Ekosanmi, said only four in 10 estimated DR-TB cases start treatment for the condition in Nigeria.

Citing World Health Organisation data, he said 390,00 people developed Multi drug-resistant/ Rifampicin-resistant TB worldwide in 2025, adding that only 42% were enrolled in treatment.

“Missed or untreated cases keep spreading resistant strains,” Ekosanmi said.

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