TB Care, Prevention and Treatment
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TB Care, Prevention and Treatment
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s most infectious deadly killer, claiming about 4,500 lives daily. Nigeria currently ranks 7th globally and 2nd in Africa among the 30 countries with the highest burden of TB, TB/HIV, and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Despite significant progress by stakeholders, the challenge remains enormous. The emergence of MDR-TB, the high prevalence of TB among people living with HIV, and the difficulty in detecting and treating TB patients continue to complicate efforts toward eradication.
Globally, WHO reports that about 2 million people die from TB every year, with 10.4 million new cases reported in 2016. Seven countries—India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, and South Africa—account for 64% of this global burden.
In Nigeria, TB disproportionately affects poor and disadvantaged populations—an estimated 152 million people living below the poverty line—most of whom reside in underserved communities with limited access to healthcare. In addition to poverty, stigma and discrimination contribute to low treatment rates among those infected.
The Africa Center for Health Leadership (ACHL) supports national efforts to address this public health challenge in line with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) mandate to “save Nigerian lives, reach zero TB deaths, and reduce the burden and impact of TB, drug-resistant TB, and TB/HIV in Nigeria.”
NTBLCP aims to:
Achieve a 50% reduction in TB prevalence and a 75% reduction in TB mortality (excluding HIV-related TB) compared to 2013 figures by 2025.
Increase case detection from 57.3/100,000 population (2013) to 287/100,000 population by 2020.
Scale up diagnostic capacity, improve services for childhood TB, and provide access to integrated services for people co-infected with TB and HIV.
Expand access to drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnostics and treatment.
Populations particularly vulnerable to TB in Nigeria include contacts of active TB cases, children, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), nomadic groups, migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), prisoners, and slum dwellers.
To improve detection, NTBLCP also engages patent medicine vendors, community pharmacists, traditional healers, and religious leaders—who are often the first point of contact for symptomatic individuals—in TB control initiatives. Additionally, the program strengthens the involvement of faith-based organizations (FBOs) and private-for-profit (PFP) health facilities in TB service delivery.
ACHL previously collaborated with Health Alive Foundation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement the Global Fund Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Program in the FCT. This partnership supported the treatment, care, and rehabilitation of TB patients and implemented community TB prevention programs across the area councils. The project also built the capacity of treatment supporters, organized community sensitization events, and worked closely with local councils to sustain awareness.
In summary, ACHL’s TB program focuses on: