First Lady reaffirms commitment to Tuberculosis eradication

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated her dedication to the ongoing fight against Tuberculosis (TB). 

In a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu emphasised her stance during a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event hosted by the Stop TB Partnership.

The First Lady expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s alarming TB burden, one of the highest in the world. She lamented the devastating impact of the disease, which continues to claim approximately 125,000 lives annually, affecting countless families across the nation.

She said, “Today, I bring a message of hope and determination. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the expertise to end TB and AMR by 2030. Addressing TB and AMR together is not just the smart way—it is the best and only way. TB does not discriminate; it affects men, women, and children, cutting across all social and economic backgrounds, with the poor being the most vulnerable.

“As a Global and National Stop TB Champion, advocating for joint efforts on addressing TB and AMR is crucial. Tuberculosis is a disease that has plagued our communities for so long and the response to the disease has experienced AMR in all its dimensions. Despite substantial progress in the fight against TB, Drug-Resistant TB has been a challenge for decades and presently remains a major cause for concern. Due to its airborne nature of spread, it is today a threat to global health security. 

“Therefore, I call upon all stakeholders to develop innovative approaches to fight both TB and AMR in a strategic and integrated manner. Our methods must include preventing new infections, improving awareness, education on the dangers of Drug-Resistant TB, and promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics. We must also prioritize research to develop new tools, treatments and new vaccines that can outpace the evolving threat of AMR”.

Earlier, Dr Lucica Ditiu, the Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, urged everyone in attendance to leverage their collective strengths as individual countries in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).

“We are struggling, but we are still making a significant impact with amazing results”.