CSOs decry low budgetary provision for tuberculosis control in Northern Nigeria.
The Northern Nexus Cluster for the control of Tuberculosis in Northern Nigeria has expressed worries over the low budgetary provision for the control of the disease in Northern Nigeria.
The cluster is a Group of six civil society organizations drawn from six states of Northern with Center for Women Youth and Community Action (NACWYCA) based in Lafia, Nasarawa state, as the anchor of the cluster.
Other Members of the Cluster includes LANGA Women Development Initiative (LWDI) Bauchi, Okaha women and Children Organization (OWACDO) Benue state, Health Development Alternative Initiative (HADI) Kano State, Community Awareness and Development Initiative (CADI) Katsina State and Kaneng Rwang Pam Foundation for Education Migration Awareness (KRP-FEMA) based in Plateau State.
The TB Northern Nexus Cluster is committed to advocating for increase in Domestic Funding of TB programs in the Cluster States, with funding from Palladium USAID-Funded Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Project.
Speaking at a TB Media Roundtable in Keffi, NACWYCA Anchor Leader, Dr. Newani Aboki, said low budgetary allocation and frequent non-release of funds have contributed to the rise on tuberculosis cases, especially in northern Nigeria.
In a presentation on the state of TB in the region, Aboki said that Nasarawa: budgeted N6 million in 2023 and, N30 million in 2024; Plateau, N50 million 2022, 2023 while none was allocated in 2024. Bauchi: N50 million (2023), N115 million (2024) and Benue: N50 million (2024)
Other states, he said had varying allocations or no specific TB budget lines.
He said that funding gaps persisted as in 2020 only 31 per cent ($373 million) of required funds were available with seven percent from domestic and 24 per cent from donor agencies.
The lead anchor person said that international donors significantly influence TB funding, thereby leaving a substantial financial gap.
The funding gaps, he said, is despite the burden of the disease in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria ranks sixth burden counties and first in Africa.
He said, “In 2023, Nigeria recorded 361,000 TB cases, contributing significantly to the global burden, while 590,000 new TV cases were reported in 2023 alone, highlighting the ongoing challenges despite all efforts.
“In northern Nigeria, Katsina has emerged as a hotspot with 27,407 cases in 2022 and significant underreporting while Kano reported 39,420 cases in 2022, the highest in the region.”
Earlier reports by the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) had said that over 2,000 positive tuberculosis cases were detected in the first half of 2023 in Plateau.
In her presentation, Executive Director, KRP FEMA, Kaneng Rwang Pam, stressed the urgent need for collective action to tackle the TB crisis.
She emphasized the importance of high domestic funding for TB control, saying that donor agencies are becoming fatigued.
She also stressed the need to bridge the 70% funding gap and called for increased collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector.
She said “TB is a major public health crisis in Northern Nigeria, requiring urgent attention and this is why creased funding is essential to address the TB epidemic and this is why collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector is crucial.
“We also need strong community engagement and active case finding and these are key components of TB control.
“The media has a vital role to play in raising awareness about TB and I hope ope that the momentum generated at the meeting will continue despite the challenges ahead.”
Executive Director LANGA Women development initiative, Amb. Grace Maikudi, noted that TB remains a major global health challenge, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
She said that espite advances in diagnostics and treatment, TB continues to be a leading cause of death from infectious diseases.
According to her, “Effective TB control requires sustained financial investment, and while international funding plays a crucial role, domestic funding is equally essential for comprehensive and long-term TB control strategies.”
