Ola Akinwunmi
A staggering 50,000 Nigerians have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) following increased screening efforts, but a critical funding gap is threatening to leave many without access to life-saving treatment, the Global Fund has warned.
The situation raises serious concerns about Nigeria’s ability to combat the disease and prevent further transmission.
Mr. Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Secretary of the Global Fund Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) in Nigeria, made the alarming announcement on Monday in Abuja during the 11th quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
Tajudeen revealed that these individuals were identified through TB case-finding efforts supported by the government and international donor partners. However, he emphasized that a shortage in funding is now jeopardizing progress made in the fight against this deadly infectious disease.
“We have successfully screened more than 50,000 people who are TB-positive, but we are unable to begin treatment for many due to limited resources,” Tajudeen stated. He attributed this backlog to constraints within the current funding cycle, which has resulted in a reprioritization of activities under the new Global Fund grant.
The CCM is expected to confirm its alignment with the revised funding allocation by July 14th, a deadline that could determine whether those affected will receive timely access to crucial treatment.
TB, a preventable and curable disease, remains a significant public health threat in Nigeria. Despite efforts to combat the disease, the country continues to grapple with one of the highest TB burdens globally.
Tajudeen highlighted several ongoing health interventions aimed at tackling the TB epidemic. These include the completion of over 25.5 million tuberculosis tests using modern diagnostic platforms, the procurement of 370 digital X-ray machines, and the ongoing upgrade of six regional reference laboratories. Furthermore, 16.6 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed to prevent malaria.
While the government has secured $95.5 million in donor commitments for these interventions, Tajudeen lamented that a shortfall from earlier budget projections has forced the shelving of planned activities, including vital drug procurement, training, and capital investments.
He urgently appealed to the Ministerial Oversight Committee and other partners to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating. “Screening alone is not enough; without treatment, we risk fueling the very epidemic we seek to control,” Tajudeen stressed.
Reports say that advocates are calling for stronger collaboration and sustained funding to close the care gap and address Nigeria’s high TB burden. Experts warn that leaving diagnosed individuals untreated significantly increases the risk of transmission and undermines national health goals. The clock is ticking, and immediate action is needed to prevent a potential TB time bomb from detonating in Nigeria.