FG Moves to Boost TB Control, Close Detection Gaps

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it is stepping up efforts to close tuberculosis (TB) detection gaps, expand access to testing and treatment, and strengthen services for vulnerable populations.

Speaking at a recent pre-World TB Day briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Director of Public Health, Charles Nzelu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding diagnostic access, strengthening domestic financing, and scaling up community-based interventions

Despite being preventable and treatable, TB continues to pose a major public health challenge globally. In Nigeria, the burden remains high, with the WHO Global TB Report estimating about 510,000 new cases annually, including 61,000 children. Health experts warn that a single untreated TB patient can infect between 12 and 15 people in a year, underscoring the urgency of early detection and treatment.

Data from 2025 show that 458,534 TB cases were reported nationwide, reflecting improved case detection. Of these, 57 per cent (262,058) were male, while 43 per cent (196,476) were female. Children aged 0–14 years accounted for 10 per cent (46,952) of all notified cases, with boys making up 56 per cent and girls 44 per cent, highlighting the need for stronger paediatric TB services.

Nigeria’s response is being driven by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme, with support from WHO, the Global Fund, and other partners. Case detection has improved significantly over the years, rising from 106,533 reported cases in 2018 to over 458,000 in 2025, with more than 80 per cent of estimated cases now being identified.

Community screening, hotspot mapping, and awareness campaigns supported by WHO are playing a key role in reaching underserved populations, including women and children. A frontline health worker at a TB Directly Observed Therapy clinic in Nasarawa State, Margaret Ogbole, said more patients are now coming forward for testing and treatment, aided by improved availability of diagnostic kits and medicines.

However, significant gaps remain. An estimated 63,000 TB cases go undetected each year, sustaining transmission across communities. Other persistent challenges include multidrug-resistant TB, TB-HIV co-infection, stigma, and limited access to testing in hard-to-reach areas.

The economic burden of the disease is also considerable, with about 71 per cent of TB patients and their households facing catastrophic costs due to lost income and out-of-pocket expenses. With declining external funding, stakeholders have emphasised the need for increased domestic investment to sustain progress and ensure uninterrupted access to care.

Experts note that ending TB will require coordinated action beyond the health sector, including interventions in social protection, housing, labour, and education, backed by strong accountability mechanisms.

To improve access, WHO is supporting Nigeria to adopt new innovations that bring services closer to communities, including simplified sample collection methods and faster diagnostic tools. The organisation is also assisting the Federal Government in developing guidelines to accelerate the rollout of these technologies and strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers with support from the Global Fund.

In addition, efforts are underway to develop Nigeria’s National TB Strategic Plan for 2027–2031, aligning with global best practices. At the global level, WHO and its partners are advancing vaccine development through initiatives such as the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council, aimed at expanding access to new TB vaccines.

As Nigeria marks the 2026 World TB Day under the theme, “Yes, we can end TB: led by the Federal Ministry of Health and powered by communities,” health officials have called for sustained commitment to tackling the disease.

WHO’s Cluster Lead for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control in Nigeria, Mya Ngon, said TB continues to claim lives largely due to delayed diagnosis and gaps in access to care, stressing the need to intensify efforts to find missing cases and expand equitable access to services.

Health authorities also urged individuals experiencing a persistent cough lasting two weeks or more to seek testing promptly, noting that early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.

While progress has been recorded, stakeholders say sustained investment, strong government leadership, and continued collaboration with partners will be critical to detecting every case, completing treatment, and ending tuberculosis as a public health threat in Nigeria.