Governors Urge FG To Provide Support For State To End Tuberculosis

Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have urged the Federal Government to provide the necessary support to the states to be able to domesticate and achieve the targets and commitments made at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Tuberculosis held in 2018 to end the ailment by 2030.

The governors assured of their commitment to ensuring that the nation’s capacity to address the challenge posed by Tuberculosis (TB) was enhanced.

Regretting that Nigeria currently ranks as first in the continent and sixth globally among countries with the highest TB burden. The governors promised increased collaboration with relevant stakeholders in eradicating the disease.

The governors’ position is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NGF Secretariat and signed by the forum’s Chairman, and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi in commemoration of this year’s TB Day.

They noted that, “this day provides the opportunity for the entire world to intensify public awareness about the devasting health, social and economic impact of tuberculosis, as well as renew our commitment to accelerate efforts at the national, state, local government and community levels to eradicate.”

The governors stated that despite the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the health sector and health facilities, “the government, in partnership with other stakeholders are working to address these challenges by strengthening the capacity of states’ TB programme to be more effective in its role.”