Inadequate funding is fueling tuberculosis cases in Nigerian children

By Adeleye Kunle

Government officials and stakeholders in the public and private sectors have expressed concern about the rising number of tuberculosis cases in Nigeria, particularly among children. They believe that, despite the devastation caused by tuberculosis, it does not receive the attention it deserves.

Stakeholders and experts gathered in Lagos for a forum titled Private Sector Engagement in Domestic Resource Mobilisation to End Tuberculosis in Nigeria called for greater collaboration and investment.

Stop TB Partnership Nigeria organized the forum as part of the High-Level Mission on Domestic Resource Mobilisation to end TB in the country.

Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Board Chairman of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, stated that 18 Nigerians die every hour from TB-related diseases, translating to 432 deaths per day and over 157,000 deaths per year, noting that one reason for the unacceptable figures is a lack of financial resources for TB control at the national and subnational levels, as well as the private sector.

“Of the $373 million needed for TB control in Nigeria in 2020, only 31 percent was available to all TB control activity implementers in Nigeria (7 percent domestic and 24 percent donor funds), leaving a 69 percent funding gap.”

With such a financial gap, Ogbuji-Ladipo believes it will be impossible to meet the target.

“Nigeria can achieve its goal through sustained financing, advocacy, awareness, diagnosis, and treatment in all parts of the country.”

“I would like to remind us that TB anywhere is TB everywhere, and we must all work together to eradicate TB in Nigeria.”

Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director and National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, stated that the most concerning aspect of TB at the moment is the increase in cases of TB among children.

“When we start seeing TB infections among children, we know we’re in big trouble.”

It should be noted that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, reported that 207,000 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were recorded in 2021, with 12,977 cases affecting children.

He went on to say that only 28 of the Federation’s 36 states and the FCT had treatment centers for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Low notification of Child TB cases has been a major challenge to the country’s control effort, owing to capacity gaps among healthcare workers in diagnosing TB in children.

Although Nigeria reported the highest number of child TB cases, the proportion of total TB cases reported in 2021 was only 6%, well below the WHO benchmark of 12%. This suggests that there is a high proportion of missing child TB cases in Nigeria.

Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership Geneva, stated that if a plane with full passengers crashed, the world would be terrified and mourned for weeks, but people who died of TB-related cases on a daily basis in Nigeria were more than that, and yet we all feel as if nothing happened.

“Of the 452,000 new TB cases expected in Nigeria in 2020, only 138,591 were reported to the NTBLCP with 30 percent treatment coverage.” From 138,591 TB cases in 2020 to 207,785 TB cases in 2021, the country saw a 50% increase in TB notification.

“In 2021, children under the age of 15 account for only 6% of all notified TB cases.” Only 2,061 (or 10%) of the estimated 21,000 DR-TB cases recorded in 2020 were diagnosed, with 72% enrolled in second line treatment. Children are infected by their parents, and we must take action; it is our collective responsibility.

“DOTs clinics are only available in 44% of Nigerian health facilities, and only 9% of them offer TB diagnostic services.”

“I believe that the lack of global attention to tuberculosis is due to the fact that it does not affect the world’s rich countries.” We are overjoyed because we have found someone who cares about his people, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, who has agreed to be the Africa Champion of Tuberculosis and has expressed his willingness to support TB control.”

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, called for more investment in primary healthcare centers across the country while praising the Lagos State government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“TB is a communicable disease, and we must all work together to eradicate it.” As part of TB control measures, the public and private sectors must invest more in primary healthcare. To respond to some of these diseases, we need to strengthen our primary healthcare system.

“Some of the changes we’ve seen are incorrect diagnoses and testing.” We want people to be able to go to PHCs and get tested for TB, HIV, and COVID-19, among other things.”

Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State, urged stakeholders to lead the fight against total TB eradication shortly after receiving the honor of TB Champion in Africa.

“Lagos state intends to convert its COVID-19 facilities into tuberculosis facilities, and the state intends to build an Infectious Disease Research Institute to prepare for the next pandemic.” We have also increased our overall health budget as a result of our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Inadequate funding is fueling tuberculosis cases among Nigerian children, according to Track News.