By ifeoma Onyekachi

Nigeria is making measurable progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), with improved case detection, expanded testing services and better treatment coverage across the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The global health agency noted that Nigeria’s experience demonstrates that strong government leadership combined with sustained technical support and investment can significantly improve TB control and treatment outcomes.

In a statement, WHO said continued commitment, funding and collaboration remain critical to ensuring every TB case is detected, treated and prevented in order to eliminate the disease as a public health threat.

According to the organisation, the impact of its technical support is already visible in several states, including Nasarawa State, where improved awareness, testing and treatment services have helped many patients receive early diagnosis and care.

WHO cited the case of a 21-year-old woman, Gwamkat Rifkatu (name changed), who developed a persistent cough that her family initially dismissed as a minor illness. Weeks passed without improvement, leaving her weak and unable to work.

During a visit to a friend, she heard a radio awareness message encouraging anyone with a cough lasting more than two weeks to go for TB testing. The following day, she visited a nearby primary health centre where her sputum sample was tested using GeneXpert, a rapid diagnostic tool scaled up nationwide with WHO technical support.

Within two hours, she was diagnosed with TB and immediately enrolled for treatment under Nigeria’s national TB programme. Health workers later screened members of her household and provided preventive therapy for those at risk. After completing treatment, she fully recovered and returned to work.

WHO said her story reflects the broader progress being recorded across Nigeria, where more people are now accessing TB testing and treatment services, including women and children who were previously under-diagnosed.

Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis continues to cause significant illness and death globally. In 2024, about 1.23 million people died from TB worldwide.

Nigeria remains one of the countries with a high TB burden. The 2025 WHO Global TB Report estimated that Nigeria records about 510,000 new TB cases annually, including approximately 61,000 children. Health experts warn that a single untreated TB patient can infect between 12 and 15 people within a year.

However, case detection in Nigeria has improved significantly in recent years. In 2025 alone, 458,534 TB cases were reported nationwide, indicating improved testing and reporting systems. Of the reported cases, 57 per cent were male while 43 per cent were female.

Children aged between 0 and 14 years accounted for about 10 per cent of all reported TB cases, highlighting the need for stronger paediatric TB detection and treatment services.

Globally, WHO said TB control efforts have saved an estimated 83 million lives since 2000.

Nigeria’s TB response is led by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme, with support from WHO, the Global Fund and other development partners.

Available data shows significant improvement in case notification over the years. In 2018, Nigeria reported 106,533 TB cases, but by 2025, the figure rose to 458,534, with more than 80 per cent of estimated cases now being detected.

At a pre-World TB Day briefing, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Charles Nzelu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding diagnostic services, increasing domestic funding and strengthening community-based TB interventions.

Community screening programmes, hotspot mapping and public awareness campaigns supported by WHO have played a major role in improving detection, particularly among underserved populations such as women and children.

A health worker at a TB Directly Observed Therapy clinic in Nasarawa State, Margaret Ogbole, said more patients are now coming forward for testing and treatment due to improved awareness and availability of diagnostic tools and medicines.

She said early diagnosis and prompt treatment have helped reduce complications and improve recovery rates.

Despite the progress recorded, WHO warned that about 63,000 TB cases in Nigeria remain undetected annually, contributing to continued transmission. Other major challenges include multidrug-resistant TB, TB-HIV co-infection, stigma and limited access to testing in hard-to-reach communities.

The economic burden of TB also remains high, with about 71 per cent of TB patients and their households facing catastrophic costs due to lost income and out-of-pocket medical expenses.

WHO stressed that with declining external funding, increased domestic investment is necessary to sustain progress and ensure uninterrupted TB services across the country.

The organisation also noted that ending TB will require coordinated efforts beyond the health sector, including improvements in housing, nutrition, labour conditions, education and social protection programmes.

WHO said it is currently supporting Nigeria to adopt new innovations that bring TB services closer to communities, including simplified sample collection methods and faster diagnostic technologies.

The agency is also supporting the development of Nigeria’s National TB Strategic Plan for 2027–2031 to align with global best practices.

Globally, WHO and its partners are also advancing the development of new TB vaccines through the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council, focusing on populations most affected by the disease.

Nigeria marked the 2026 World TB Day with the theme, “Yes, we can end TB,” led by the Federal Ministry of Health and supported by communities and development partners.

WHO officials emphasised that tuberculosis remains preventable and curable, but delayed testing and limited access to healthcare services continue to cost lives, stressing the need to find missing cases, expand innovation and ensure equal access to treatment.

Health experts also advised that anyone with a cough lasting two weeks or more should visit the nearest health facility for TB testing.