The cut in U.S. aid threatens tuberculosis treatment in Nigeria, worsening the funding gap required for essential services. An immediate funding shortfall has emerged, potentially disrupting case-finding efforts. While some areas remain supported by the Global Fund, overall reliance on international aid requires urgent shifts towards domestic funding to sustain TB programs effectively.
The recent reduction in U.S. aid poses a significant threat to tuberculosis (TB) treatment in Nigeria, where funding shortages are already pronounced. With an estimated requirement of $404 million for TB services in 2025, the risk of disrupting critical case-finding and treatment initiatives looms unless alternative funding is secured. A funding gap of $5 million has surfaced just from January to March due to changes in U.S. aid policies, potentially jeopardizing TB program sustainability.
The Global Fund, a key partner in TB management, has earmarked only $89 million for Nigeria’s 2025 TB program and a meager $16 million for 2026. Despite efforts to treat 499,000 Nigerians in 2024, early depletion of resources has left only 418,000 individuals on treatment. Worryingly, some TB medications slated for 2025 usage have already been consumed, which raises issues about future availability.
However, Mr. Tajudeen Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund, stated that the U.S. aid cut primarily impacts TB case-finding activities in 18 states and clarified that other regions receive adequate support from the Global Fund. He emphasized that these states would continue their TB services without disruption due to existing funding.
Nigeria’s TB efforts depend greatly on international contributions, yet local funding remains alarmingly low, ranging from 6 percent to 8 percent between 2018 and 2023, while international aid fluctuated between 16 percent and 32 percent. Consequently, a staggering 70 percent funding gap was reported in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced domestic investment in TB services.
Approximately 50 percent of health facilities in Nigeria provide TB treatment, with GeneXpert MTB/RIF diagnostic machines available in only 48 percent of local government areas. The WHO’s 2024 Global TB Report places Nigeria at the top of Africa’s TB burden and the sixth globally, reporting nearly 499,000 new cases in 2023, which accounts for 20 percent of Africa’s TB burden and 18 percent of its TB deaths.
Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, reported a record TB notification rate for 2024, identifying over 400,000 cases, achieving a 79 percent coverage rate. Importantly, improvements in detection among children were observed, with cases increasing from 8,293 in 2018 to 43,000 in 2024.
Nonetheless, Dr. Ntadom cautioned that many TB cases remain undiagnosed, contributing to ongoing transmission. Drug-resistant TB poses another challenge, along with low enrollment rates for treated cases. To raise awareness and mobilize resources, World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated on March 24, under the current year’s theme “YES! WE CAN END TB – COMMIT. INVEST. DELIVER.”
The Stop TB Partnership Nigeria urges increased domestic efforts to support TB initiatives, coinciding with discouraging trends in donor support. Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Acting Board Chair of the Partnership, underscored the critical need for advocacy for local resources, as funding from external sources declines. She called upon policymakers and civil society to collaborate for stronger TB policies and initiatives.
In summary, the U.S. aid cut is jeopardizing vital TB treatment services in Nigeria, which already faces substantial funding challenges. A pressing need for increased domestic investment in TB services has been highlighted, as reliance on international funding becomes increasingly strained. Stakeholders must advocate for greater local resources to support the fight against tuberculosis effectively, ensuring that Nigeria can sustain and enhance its TB prevention and treatment efforts despite declining donor support.
Original Source: leadership.ng
