BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/RITA OYIBOKA
The Delta State Ministry Of Health has disclosed that about 18,195 adults and children are living with tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
This statement was made yesterday during the flag-off of a one-day capacity-building workshop aimed at enhancing advocacy strategies for TB funding, organized by a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), concern for women and youth empowerment (COWOYEM), in collaboration with the k-paladin organisation and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The workshop brought together representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil service organizations, media outlets, and government agencies to share knowledge and expertise on TB advocacy, budget tracking, and media engagement.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of COWOYEM, Tessy Enahoro, noted that Tb is an airborne disease that can be easily contracted, underscoring the importance of funding TB advocacy in the state. She called for partnerships with media organizations and stakeholders to raise awareness, especially in rural areas, about the dangers of TB.
Speaking at the event, the representative of an NGO, Policy Alert, Mr. Koko Udo, emphasized that despite efforts to combat tuberculosis, funding remains alarmingly low, stuck at 6.1% for domestic funding.
“While Nigeria ranks number six in the world and number one in Africa in TB burden, domestic funding for the disease remains at 6.1%.This capacity building is to advocate for the release of allocated TB funds by October 2024, facilitate private sector engagement, and promote state health insurance coverage for TB patients,” he said.
The workshop featured resource persons who shared expertise in effective advocacy, budgeting, and funding for TB in the nation. Monitoring and Evaluation officer for the Delta State TB control program, Mr. Goodluck Imoniero, highlighted the state’s challenges in diagnosing TB.
Imoniero stressed the need to reduce TB cases to a level where it is no longer a public health concern in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of The Family values, Renaissance and Empowerment initiative, Amb. Tina Uche, emphasized the media’s crucial role in promoting awareness, policy, and behavioral change regarding TB existence and treatment.
