- Urges Timely Release of Funds To Combat Disease
BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Concern for Women and Youth Empowerment (COWOYEM), which is implementing the Fund TB project in Delta State, has reported that approximately 26,278 Tuberculosis (TB) patients are currently undergoing treatment across six states—Delta, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Plateau, and Imo—during the first quarter of 2024.
This was stated during a consultative meeting with private sector entities in Asaba, the state capital.
The Executive Director of COWOYEM, Mrs Tessy Enahoro, mentioned that the NGO is currently implementing the project under the FUND TB Cluster with Policy Alert as the anchor, in partnership with Palladium Group, under the health component of Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Mrs Enahoro emphasised that their goal is to access budgeted funds for TB programs in Delta State and to advocate for increased funding, stressing that the release of funds for TB programs would significantly boost the efforts of the ministry of health and NGOs working toward the eradication of TB in Nigeria. She stressed that timely funding is crucial to achieving the goal of completely eradicating TB in Nigeria by 2030.
She highlighted that the more than 18,000 cases, including both adults and children, in Delta State could be properly managed if allocated funds were released, as it would enable increased public awareness, especially in rural areas, and provide essential healthcare services for TB patients.
Similarly, the Program Manager of the Delta State Ministry of Health for tuberculosis, Dr. Francis Bakpa, reiterated the need for government intervention to ensure that funds allocated for TB programs are released. He also stressed the importance of renovating treatment centres in Delta State and securing sufficient funds to boost public sensitization efforts.
Dr. Bakpa also mentioned challenges such as a shortage of hospital materials, as he appealed for the training and retraining of staff, support for laboratories, enhanced supervision, and increased awareness campaigns.
In his remarks, the representative from Policy Alert coordinating the project, Mr. Koko Udo, noted that the TB intervention in Delta State is entirely reliant on donor funding, a situation he described as unsustainable. He warned that the state could become vulnerable if donors were to withdraw their support for TB intervention.
Mr. Udo applauded the efforts of stakeholders advocating for the success of the project and emphasized that all hands must be on deck to ensure the timely release of TB funds is achieved.
