Bauchi State Committed to Eradicating Tuberculosis, Increased Funding and Collaboration to Address Growing Crisis
Bauchi, Nigeria – The Bauchi State Government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating tuberculosis (TB) by increasing funding, improving resource management, and collaboration with stakeholders.
Speaking during a visit by the Langa Women Development Initiative, Aminu Hamayyo, Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination, emphasized the need to prioritize TB control and management, lamenting that it has been neglected compared to other public health diseases.
"The funding is essential for supporting TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention initiatives, as well as building the capacity of workers," Hamayyo stated.
Dr. Adamu Sambo, State Commissioner for Health, echoed this commitment, promising to ensure the availability of TB drugs and diagnostic equipment, as well as addressing logistical issues in remote areas.
The advocacy visit also aimed to ensure that funds are specifically allocated for TB control activities, facilitating better planning and execution. According to Dr. Yakubu Gida, Director of Tuberculosis at BACATMA, the state is plagued by undetected cases of TB, which serve as a reservoir for continued transmission.
"The Missing TB Cases," Gida explained, affect an estimated 7,130 (44%) of the state’s total estimated TB cases.
The visit underscored the urgency of addressing TB, a critical public health challenge affecting Nigeria’s 7.5 million-strong population. With a national TB prevalence rate of 330 per 100,000 and an incidence rate of 219 per 100,000, the state must urgently allocate sufficient resources to stem the growing crisis.
Bauchi’s underachievement in meeting its TB program targets – 719 (target 799) DOT centres and 127 (target 340) microscopy centers, for instance – must also be addressed to ensure seamless service delivery.
Collaboration between stakeholders, including civil society organizations and healthcare workers, will be crucial in mitigating the spread of TB in the state.
With renewed commitment to the eradication of TB, Bauchi’s state government has demonstrated its dedication to confronting the complex issue head-on and is expected to prioritize the development and allocation of sufficient resources to tackle this devastating disease.
