From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The the wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, has said that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected TB programme and services all over the world.
According to Aisha, the modelling study conducted by stop TB partnership on the impact of COVID-19 on TB indicated that global TB incidence and deaths in 2021 would increase to levels seen in between 2013 and 2016 respectively.
Aisha stated this at the opening session of the 33rd stop TB partnership Board virtual meeting recently, adding that “this was discouraging but we cannot give up in the fight to end TB in African countries including Nigeria.
” Being a Global TB champion and ambassador; she said she is very committed to support activities at the global, regional and national level towards ending TB and related diseases.
Mrs. Buhari also observed that the appointment of wives of state governors as TB Champions has been a game-changer in increasing political awareness and commitment on TB in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has said that TB still remains a major public health problem in the Africa.
The minister explained that the region accounts for 25 percent of people who developed TB in 2019 with Nigeria having the highest TB burden in the region.
