Nigeria’s First Lady Pledges N1 Billion to Fight Tuberculosis
By Babagana Jidda
Kanempress
March 26, 2024
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has pledged an additional N1 billion through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the country. Her commitment comes as part of the efforts to address the growing TB crisis, which she described as a health emergency.
Speaking at the 2025 World TB Day Community Outreach in Sauka Village, Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted the urgency of tackling TB, citing alarming statistics from the World Health Organization’s 2024 Global TB Report. She pointed out that one person dies from TB every seven minutes in Nigeria, stressing the need for immediate and decisive action to combat the disease.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Mrs. Tinubu committed to advocating for increased funding, policy reforms, and stronger partnerships aimed at improving TB awareness, treatment, and prevention. She also emphasized the importance of eliminating the stigma surrounding TB, ensuring that vulnerable groups, including women and children, have equal access to care and support.
The event featured free TB testing, health talks, and interactive sessions aimed at raising awareness and educating the community about the importance of early detection and treatment.
Dr. Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, echoed Mrs. Tinubu’s commitment, affirming that with the political will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, TB eradication by 2030 is an achievable goal.
The theme for the 2025 World TB Day, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver,” was supported by the local slogan “We Fit Do Am,” urging Nigerians to take collective action in the fight against TB and help end the disease in the country.
