Angela Onwuzoo To address the huge funding gap in tuberculosis services, scale up tuberculosis case finding and place patients on treatment, the Federal Government has struck a $50 million (N78.3bn) joint contribution deal with the private sector. For Nigeria to achieve the goal of eliminating TB by 2030, the Federal Government said it was crucial to collaborate with the private sector to provide direct funding to the national TB programme and also deliver financial and non-financial incentives.
The private sector is also expected to bring its expertise and advocate political commitment and investment in TB treatment and control. Tuberculosis popularly known as TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Symptoms include coughing, phlegm, and more.
Nigeria ranks top in TB burden in Africa and number six in the world. Despite Nigeria accounting for the high burden of the disease, the country still has a 70 per cent funding gap in TB with only six per cent of the National TB budget coming from domestic sources. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate disclosed this during the launch of the Private Sector Strategy to End Tuberculosis in Nigeria, held in Lagos recently.
It was organised by the Stop TB Nigeria Partnership. Pate said the Federal Government would contribute $25 million (N39.1bn) to match the $25 million financial commitment made by the private sector towards the goal.
The minister said, “Nigeria faces a huge funding ga.