The Federal Government has reaffirmed that spiritual forces do not cause tuberculosis (TB) but is a preventable and curable disease.
It also restated that TB screening and treatment are free at government-owned health facilities.
Speaking during a road show and awareness walk in Abuja to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, Deputy Director of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Dr. Urhioke Ochuko, emphasized the need for early detection and treatment to curb the spread of TB.
World TB Day, observed every March 24, aims to raise awareness about the disease and mobilize efforts, including political commitment and funding, toward its eradication.
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The event in Abuja, themed “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver,” sought to encourage residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent coughs, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, or other TB symptoms.
Ochuko stressed the importance of early diagnosis, stating, “If anyone that is coughing for two weeks or more, or has fever that has lasted for more than two weeks or is losing weight unintentionally, they should seek care at the nearest hospital closer to them so that they can be tested. If they are found to have TB, they will be treated for free. So the whole essence is to say that TB is still with us. It is not caused by superstition, it is not caused by spiritual forces, it is caused by germs that can be cured.”
Similarly, Babafunke Fagbemi, Executive Director of the Centre for Communication and Social Impact, emphasized the need for continuous advocacy, community engagement, and improved healthcare access to combat TB.
She noted, “Nigeria is among the top 10 high-burden countries for TB worldwide. According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, over 400,000 TB cases were recorded in 2024 alone. Despite being preventable and curable, TB remains a leading cause of illness and death due to low awareness, delayed diagnosis, and barriers to treatment access.”
