Nigeria has witnessed a major discount in tuberculosis mortality, dropping by 63 per cent between 2015 and 2024, the Director of the Public Well being Division of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Dan Gadzama, has revealed.
The nation additionally achieved a powerful therapy success charge of 94 per cent, indicating that TB is curable when detected early and handled correctly.
Gadzama said these on Saturday through the official World TB Day 2026 Neighborhood Outreach held in Mabushi Neighborhood, a suburb throughout the Abuja metropolis centre.
In accordance with the report, TB mortality has been lowered by 63 per cent between 2015 and 2024, a testomony to sustained efforts by the federal government, companions, and communities.
The outreach occasion, which was organised by the FCT Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Management Programme (FCT-TBLCP), in collaboration with the Nationwide Tuberculosis and Leprosy Management Programme (NTBLCP), Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria, and different improvement companions, noticed many residents benefiting from free tuberculosis check, counseling, and therapy.
Addressing the gathering, Gadzama stated: “Immediately, we collect not simply to commemorate a day, however to reaffirm our collective dedication to ending one of many world’s oldest infectious illnesses—Tuberculosis.
“Tuberculosis stays a serious public well being concern globally and nationally. Regardless of being preventable and curable, TB continues to say lives and disrupt households and communities.
An estimated 10.7 million individuals fell ailing with TB in 2024, with 1.23 million deaths, together with 150,000 deaths amongst individuals with HIV. Nigeria stays one of many international locations with a excessive TB burden.
“Nevertheless, I’m happy to notice that we’re making vital progress. On the nationwide degree, beneath the NTBLCP’s management, Nigeria has recorded exceptional achievements.
“The nation reported over 467,000 TB circumstances in 2025, the best ever in our historical past. This displays improved case detection and stronger programmatic implementation”.
Gadzama stated that the FCT-TBLCP recorded its highest achievements in 2025, with over 40,171 presumptive TB purchasers recognized and screened, and three,679 TB circumstances notified, the best within the programme’s historical past.
Abolaji Akinola, who represented the Nationwide Coordinator of NTBLCP, urged the general public to stick to the well being advisory of realizing their standing by profiting from the free tuberculosis check.
On its half, the World Well being Organisation (WHO) stated that regardless of challenges, the world had made exceptional advances in diagnostics, utilizing varied therapy choices, digital instruments, and community-centred care.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo
Times Nigeria