Nigeria Takes Stand With UN Member States To Declare Ambitious Goals For TB Eradication....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Nigeria, alongside several UN Member States, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders, has endorsed a declaration aimed at advancing efforts to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) by 2030.

The declaration outlines ambitious new targets for the next five years, including achieving a 90 percent coverage rate for TB prevention and care services, offering social benefit packages to TB patients, and authorizing at least one new TB vaccine.

Tuberculosis ranks as the second most deadly infectious disease globally, following COVID-19, with approximately 1.6 million deaths in 2021 alone, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Furthermore, the sole available TB vaccine is over a century old.

This political commitment was made by all 193 Member States and stakeholders during a High-level meeting on the fight against Tuberculosis held during the ongoing 78th UN General Assembly.

Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, questioned why a preventable and treatable disease like TB, which claims over 4,400 lives daily, persists despite humanity’s tremendous advancements.

TB has plagued humanity for centuries, known by various names such as the white plague and consumption. It is caused by bacteria, primarily affecting the lungs, and is treatable with antibiotics.

A WHO council, convened to facilitate the development and equitable distribution of new TB vaccines, held its inaugural meeting this week.

Eradicating the TB epidemic is among the health objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global roadmap for a more equitable and environmentally sustainable future by the end of this decade.

Five years ago, nations set the goal of providing TB treatment to 40 million individuals but only reached 34 million. They also aimed to provide preventive treatment to 30 million but fell short by half.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for addressing the primary drivers of TB, including poverty, malnutrition, limited access to healthcare, high HIV infection rates, diabetes, mental health issues, and smoking.

She also emphasized the need to reduce TB-related stigma, allowing individuals to seek treatment without fear of discrimination, and urged governments to ensure universal health coverage that encompasses TB screening, prevention, and treatment.

Amina Mohammed shared her personal motivation for supporting the global fight against TB, recounting her father’s death from the disease 37 years ago and emphasizing the need for a TB vaccine.

Mongolian author Handaa Rea, a TB survivor, urged world leaders to address TB not only medically but also socially, emphasizing the stigma and discrimination experienced by TB patients in many developing countries.

Rea highlighted that the consequences of stigma are even more pronounced for women and girls, who face higher standards of health, well-being, and appearance.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus commended the strong commitment to ending TB, stating that the political declaration was reached by consensus before the meeting and will be presented to the General Assembly, consisting of all 193 Member States.

He noted the historic opportunity to finally end the TB pandemic, thanks to improved knowledge, tools, and political commitment, stating that no previous generation had such an opportunity.