Addressing the Tuberculosis Crisis in Nigeria: Urgent Action Required

World Tuberculosis Day 2025 emphasizes the urgent need for Nigeria to combat tuberculosis, which is a significant health crisis in the country. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB continues to claim many lives annually. Nigeria displays the highest TB burden in Africa, with alarming case rates and detection deficiencies, underscoring the urgent need for robust investments in healthcare and public awareness initiatives to address this epidemic.

As the global community observes the 2025 World Tuberculosis Day with the theme “Yes! We can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” it becomes increasingly urgent for Nigerian leaders to prioritize the elimination of tuberculosis (TB). Since its inception in 1982, World TB Day has served as a reminder for accountability and action against this deadly disease, which afflicts millions worldwide, causing significant health, social, and economic repercussions.

Tuberculosis, an airborne infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains a leading cause of death despite being preventable and curable. Reports indicate that approximately 10 million people contract active TB annually, with 1.1 million among them being children, and 860,000 individuals living with HIV. Alarmingly, in 2023 alone, an estimated 1.25 million lives were lost to TB, including 161,000 patients co-infected with HIV.

The symptoms of TB are severe and include a persistent cough lasting three weeks or longer, chest pain, and the expulsion of blood or sputum from the lungs. Additionally, individuals may experience fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats. Nigeria faces a particularly high TB burden, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that 268 individuals succumb to the disease each day due to underreported cases, which heightens the risk of transmission.

In 2023, over 361,000 TB cases were reported in Nigeria, with children representing 9 percent of these cases, indicating a disturbing 26 percent rise compared to 2022 figures. Nigeria contributes about 4.6 percent of the global TB burden, leading to 347 daily deaths. Concerningly, the WHO’s 2019 Global TB Report highlighted a mere 24 percent detection rate in Nigeria, with only 20 percent of healthcare facilities providing TB services.

Various factors contribute to TB cases in Nigeria, including malnutrition (20 percent), HIV (12 percent), diabetes (3 percent), and alcohol use disorder (1 percent). Furthermore, a significant gap in the funding required for TB control—estimated at 69 percent—has been identified as a barrier to adequate care, alongside increasing occurrences of drug-resistant TB. Awareness remains limited, and stigma surrounding the disease persistently hampers treatment access.

The WHO suggests that the gap in case detection is especially pronounced among children. Many health workers are not sufficiently trained to identify childhood TB, compounded by a lack of community awareness. To combat TB effectively, governmental commitment and investment in healthcare infrastructure are vital. Both federal and state government initiatives should focus on enhancing medical facilities while ensuring accessible treatment for all citizens.

Innovative strategies, along with increased public awareness campaigns, are essential for effectively addressing TB. Nigeria’s National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer, and Leprosy Control Programme, alongside partners such as the WHO, must implement testing, diagnosis, and treatment measures across the nation’s 36 states.

To successfully eradicate tuberculosis in Nigeria, it is imperative that government agencies reinforce their commitments to healthcare improvements, while simultaneously increasing investment in infrastructure and resources. The alarming rise in tuberculosis cases calls for an immediate and coordinated response, involving multiple stakeholders to ensure that prevention, detection, and treatment services reach all communities effectively. Through enhanced awareness, funding, and access, Nigeria can confront and significantly decrease the burden of tuberculosis.

Original Source: punchng.com