By Ahmed Ahmed
The Cluster of Civil Society Organisations under the Tuberculosis (TB) Northern Nexus cluster have advocated for an increase in domestic funding for TB control in Northern Nigeria.
Amb. Grace Maikudi, Executive Director LANGA Women development initiative made the call at a 2 days TB media roundtable meeting organissed by the Cluster with the support of USAID- Palladium SCALE on Friday in Keffi Nasarawa State.
She noted that TB remains a major global health challenge, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide.
“Despite advances in diagnostics and treatment, TB continues to be a leading cause of death from infectious diseases.
“Effective TB control requires sustained financial investment, and while international funding plays a crucial role, domestic funding is equally essential for comprehensive and long-term TB control strategies,” she said.
She urged governments and private sectors to prioritize TB control in national budgets, considering the high burden and long-term economic benefits of effective TB management.
“Invest in healthcare infrastructure and workforce to improve TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention capabilities.
“Develop and implement strong health policies and governance structures to ensure effective use of domestic resources.
“Encourage collaborations between the public sector, private sector, and civil society to leverage additional resources and expertise.
According to her,international funding alone is insufficient to address the scale of TB challenges, particularly where TB burden is highest.
“While appreciating the government’s efforts, Maikudi urged government and private sector to complement international support with domestic resources.
“This funding is critical for developing and implementing TB control programs, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare infrastructure and awareness campaign,” She said.
Maikudi explained that increased domestic funding ensures continuity, sustainability and stability of TB control programs.
She said domestic resources allow for tailored interventions that address local TB epidemiology, healthcare infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions, which international funding may not fully account for.
The TB Northern Nexus cluster comprises of sixs CSOs including the anchor, Center for Women Youth and Community Action, LANGA Women development initiative, CADI, OWACDO, HDAL and KRP -FEMA.