By Julie Ekong
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu has been named as the “TB Champion for the African Region.
The Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership Geneva, Dr Lucica Dittu, made the announcement at a Dinner on Private Sector Engagement in Domestic Resource Mobilization to End TB in Nigeria.
Dr Lucica who said that Nigeria would win the war against Tuberculosis with the right political will called for collaboration from everyone to ensure success.
Responding, Governor Sanwo-olu promised to take the message to other governors to see how to change the indices.
He noted that due to the severity of the disease, more funds would be allocated every year to eradicate it.
Governor Sanwo-olu who expressed dismay at the heavy burden of TB on the clients promised to do more.
He emphasized that a world class Infectious Disease Institute would be built to prepare for an outbreak and effectively tackle existing ones
The Governor advocated constant engagement with the private sector adding that the burden of TB is not a Lagos or Nigeria agenda but an African agenda.
In an address of welcome, the Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, said of the 373million Dollars needed for TB control in Nigeria two years ago, only 31% was available to all the implementers of TB control activities in the country. 7% domestic and 24% donor funds, with 69%funding gap.
She warned that pragmatic steps must be taken to address it as TB anywhere is TB everywhere.
