Nigeria May Face Spike in TB Cases Due to Inadequate Drugs, Diagnostics, Says NEPWHAN

Nigeria is on the brink of a public health crisis as a severe shortage of essential tuberculosis medicines and diagnostic tools threatens to drive up infection rates, according to the Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).

The organization has raised an alarm, highlighting that Nigeria already bears one of the highest global burdens of TB. The current lack of critical supplies presents a grave danger, particularly to the country's large population living with HIV, who are also disproportionately affected by TB. Data from the first quarter of this year revealed that 64.2 percent of monitored facilities reported stock-outs of at least one essential TB commodity.

"NEPWHAN expresses deep concern and outrage over the ongoing stock-out of critical TB commodities across the country and the continued failure of government to adequately finance programmes, procure essential TB commodities and fulfil its counterpart funding commitments to the national TB response," stated Abdulkadir Ibrahim, National Coordinator of NEPWHAN. He added that 43 percent of interviewed patients reported being asked to return for essential TB commodities, and 52.2 percent of facilities noted shortages of GeneXpert cartridges and sputum collection materials.

NEPWHAN is calling for immediate government intervention, urging the federal government to declare the TB commodity stock-out a public health priority. The group demands the swift release of adequate funds for procurement and distribution of TB medicines and supplies. Furthermore, NEPWHAN stressed the importance of fulfilling outstanding counterpart funding commitments and establishing sustainable domestic financing mechanisms for TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Strengthening procurement and supply chain systems is also crucial to prevent future stock-outs and ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving TB services nationwide.

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NEPWHAN expresses deep concern and outrage over the ongoing stock-out of critical TB commodities across the country and the continued failure of government to adequately finance programmes, procure essential TB commodities and fulfil its counterpart funding commitments to the national TB response.