80% of Nigerians Unaware of Tuberculosis Threat, Impeding Control Efforts – Expert
- Over 18,000 TB Cases Diagnosed in Lagos in 2023
Despite tuberculosis (TB) being a significant public health issue, over 80% of Nigerians remain unaware of the disease’s signs and symptoms, severely hindering efforts to control its spread.
This was revealed by Dr. Olusola Sokoya, Coordinator of the Lagos State TB, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, during the IMPAACT4TB Phase 2 Project event, hosted by the AURUM Institute and UNITAID.
Dr. Sokoya disclosed that in 2023 alone, more than 18,000 Lagos residents were diagnosed with TB. He raised concerns over the widespread lack of awareness, noting that only 30% of Nigerians can recognize the symptoms of the disease, making it challenging to curb its transmission.
According to Sokoya, Nigeria ranks 6th globally and 1st in Africa for TB prevalence, with 11% of cases undetected. He referenced the 2022 Global TB Report, which identified Nigeria as one of five countries contributing to over 50% of the 2.9 million TB cases missed worldwide.
“To effectively combat TB, we need at least 80-90% of the population to be educated on its symptoms,” Dr. Sokoya stressed. “With awareness currently at just 25%, we are far behind in the fight to eliminate TB in Nigeria.”
The event, held over three days, emphasized the need for stronger media partnerships to increase public awareness and empower Nigerians with the knowledge to detect and prevent TB. Sokoya urged the media and other stakeholders to amplify educational campaigns targeting all segments of society to help curb the disease.
Dr. Sokoya also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to improve diagnostics with the introduction of the GNSS machine,
The GNSS means a Genexpert machine that uses gene analysis to detect TB. Currently, 38 GNSS machines are operational across 32 sites in Nigeria, bolstering the country’s diagnostic capacity.
In Lagos, TB prevalence is estimated at 332 cases per 100,000 people, with an incidence rate of 219 per 100,000. Sokoya revealed that in 2023, 31,459 cases were missed, while 18,541 were detected.
As Lagos and Kano record the highest TB cases nationwide, the urgent need for intensified awareness campaigns was highlighted, with Sokoya calling on media professionals to play a critical role in informing the public and reducing TB’s spread across Nigeria.
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