Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adaiza, the Commissioner for Health in Kogi State, has underscored the imperative of eradicating tuberculosis in Nigeria, with a particular focus on Kogi State. Addressing the media during a press briefing to commemorate the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Dr. Abdulazeez emphasized that despite being curable and preventable, TB continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Nigeria.
The theme for this year’s World TB Day is “Yes, we can end Tuberculosis,” with the slogan “Commit, Invest, Deliver.” Dr. Abdulazeez stressed the urgent need to combat the disease, especially in Africa, where Nigeria bears one of the highest TB burdens, with 219 cases per 100,000 individuals infected annually.
In Kogi State, TB is prevalent across all 21 local government areas, affecting individuals from diverse backgrounds. In 2024, the state’s TB program successfully identified and treated 8,249 cases. To enhance screening and diagnosis efforts, the Global Fund generously donated four portable digital x-ray machines and 10 trunant machines to the state.
The Commissioner highlighted various challenges in the quest to eliminate TB, including inadequate capacity for case identification and treatment, insufficient funding, suboptimal health-seeking behaviors, and staffing shortages, particularly in private healthcare settings. He underscored the state government’s unwavering commitment to combatting TB, with an annual counterpart funding of ₦200 million and the enhancement of health facilities.
Dr. Abdulazeez commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration for prioritizing the advancement of primary healthcare, which plays a pivotal role in TB control. He lauded the governor’s substantial investments in upgrading primary healthcare centers, with over ₦7 billion allocated for the revitalization of 88 PHCs across the state.
Furthermore, Dr. Abdulazeez highlighted the governor’s dedication to fortifying the state’s healthcare system.
To achieve a TB-free Kogi State, Dr. Abdulazeez called on individuals, corporate entities, and all sectors to support the state’s TB program through donations, improved case detection rates, and enhancedx diagnosed capacities. He stressed that effective health education, community awareness, early case detection, and treatment are crucial in ending TB.
Dorothy Onoja
PRO
Ministry of Health
