Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates. Nigeria ranks 6th globally and 1st in Africa in terms of TB burden, with an estimated 440,000 new cases annually. Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to spread, particularly in hard-to-reach communities, due to low awareness, late diagnosis, and limited access to treatment. Addressing these challenges requires sustained commitment, strategic investments, and effective service delivery.
World TB Day 2025: “We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”
Each year, March 24 is observed as World TB Day to raise awareness about the devastating impact of TB and mobilize action toward its elimination. The 2025 theme, “We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” emphasizes the need for stronger political will, increased funding, and accelerated TB response efforts to achieve global TB targets.
ARFH’s Milestones in Tuberculosis Control (2024)
In line with the global fight against TB, the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) has made remarkable strides in TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in Nigeria. Key achievements in 2024 include:
- Over 570,000 peoplereached with TB awareness
- 491,008 individuals screenedfor TB, leading to the diagnosis of 19,857 cases.
- 19,533 diagnosed individualssuccessfully enrolled in treatment programs.
- 17,902 household contactsof bacteriologically confirmed TB patients initiated on TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), surpassing the 2024 target by 202.4%.
These milestones highlight ARFH’s commitment to ending TB through innovative community-based strategies, robust partnerships, and strengthened healthcare systems. As the world intensifies efforts to eliminate TB, ARFH remains at the forefront, working tirelessly to ensure early detection, effective treatment, and prevention of TB transmission in Nigeria.
