According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, TB claimed 1.3 million lives, including 167,000 individuals with HIV, making it the second leading infectious killer worldwide after COVID-19, surpassing HIV/AIDS
Senator Remi Tinubu, the First Lady, generously donated N1 billion on Thursday to aid the fight against Tuberculosis in Nigeria, aiming to eradicate the epidemic by 2030.
Her contribution was made in Abuja following her appointment as the global and national Stop TB champion by the Global Stop TB Partnership.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, TB claimed 1.3 million lives, including 167,000 individuals with HIV, making it the second leading infectious killer worldwide after COVID-19, surpassing HIV/AIDS.
Nigeria ranks sixth globally and is the African country with the highest burden of TB. Senator Tinubu, in her remarks at the event, embraced her investiture as a call to action to combat TB in Nigeria with the goal of elimination by 2030.
She said, “Ending TB by 2030 is not impossible with the active support of everyone seated here today. Let me acknowledge the efforts of all stakeholders at the national, regional and global levels towards addressing the TB epidemic.”
She noted that following the 2023 political declaration adoption of the United Nations High-Level Meeting, President Bola Tinubu is fully committed towards to the fight against TB and achieving the goals set forth in the political declaration adoption.
She said, “Nigeria has made remarkable progress in the fight against TB and it is still not relenting in its efforts to eradicate TB completely, even before the target of 2030.
She noted that following the 2023 political declaration adoption of the United Nations High-Level Meeting, President Bola Tinubu is fully committed towards to the fight against TB and achieving the goals set forth in the political declaration adoption.
She said, “Nigeria has made remarkable progress in the fight against TB and it is still not relenting in its efforts to eradicate TB completely, even before the target of 2030.
“Nevertheless, I call on the government, legislators, private partners, development partners, civil society organisations, health care professionals, academia, market men and women, communities, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and individuals to intensify their efforts in working towards ending TB by ensuring that everyone has access to quality TB diagnosis and treatment services.
“I congratulate the first ladies who have today become TB champions in their respective states. This designation is not just a title but to use your positions to amplify the awareness on TB and end the stigma associated with TB.
“It is on the note that we at the Renewed Hope Initiative have decided to support the fight to end TB by 2030 with a humble donation of N1bn and we use this opportunity to call on all well meaning Nigerians to assist in this fight.”
The Executive Director of the Global Stop TB Partnership, Geneva, Dr Lucica Ditiu, commended Nigeria’s efforts in eradicating TB.
Source: