TB Epidemic: First Lady Tinubu Calls for Joint Efforts to Combat the Disease
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged the international community to come together to combat the TB epidemic, which claims the lives of 125,000 people annually. According to a statement by her Media Aide, Busola Kukoyi, Tinubu made the call during a side event of the United Nations General Assembly themed "Breaking the Resistance: Fighting AMR and TB Together for a Healthy Future".
Tinubu highlighted the devastating toll TB continues to take on Nigeria, stating, "Nigeria bears one of the highest TB burdens globally, and the loss of 125,000 lives each year is a tragedy we can no longer ignore." She emphasized the need for increased investment in research to develop new tools, treatments, and vaccines to tackle the evolving threat posed by TB and antimicrobial resistance.
The First Lady expressed confidence in the ability of authorities to end the scourge of TB and AMR by 2030, adding that the fight against both diseases must be tackled together. She called on governments, international organisations, and the private sector to collaborate on innovative approaches to fighting TB and AMR.
Dr Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, urged stakeholders to build on each other’s strengths as individual countries to fight TB. The event, which took place in Abuja, was attended by wives of governors, health ministers, and other dignitaries.
Tinubu stressed that addressing TB and AMR together is not only the smart way but the only way to combat the disease. She urged for preventive measures, awareness campaigns, and education on the dangers of drug-resistant TB. The First Lady also noted that drug-resistant TB has plagued communities for decades and continues to be a major health challenge due to its airborne nature and resistance to conventional treatments.
The Stop TB Partnership event aimed to underscore the need for joint efforts to combat the dual threats of TB and AMR on national and global scales. With the clock ticking towards the 2030 deadline, it is crucial that the international community comes together to tackle this public health crisis.
