No fewer than 50,000 Nigerians have tested positive for tuberculosis, according to the Global Fund, raising alarm about the country’s capacity to treat and contain one of its most serious public health threats.
Mr Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Secretary of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), disclosed the figure on Monday, June 30, in Abuja at the 11th quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
“We have successfully screened more than 50,000 people who are TB-positive, but we are unable to begin treatment for many due to limited resources,” Tajudeen said.
The cases were discovered through an ongoing national TB case-finding effort supported by the Nigerian government and donor partners.
However, he said funding shortages have created a growing backlog of untreated patients, which could reverse progress made in fighting the disease.
Tajudeen explained that the setback stems from budget adjustments under the current Global Fund grant, forcing the delay or cancellation of essential activities such as drug procurement and health worker training.
“The Country Coordinating Mechanism CCM is expected to confirm its alignment with the revised funding allocation by July 14, a deadline that may determine whether those affected could access life-saving treatment in time,” he said.
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While tuberculosis is both preventable and curable, it remains a major health challenge in Nigeria, which ranks among countries with the highest burden globally.
The Global Fund has supported more than 25.5 million TB tests using modern diagnostic tools.
Tajudeen said 370 digital X-ray machines have been procured to boost diagnosis, with distribution already underway, while six regional reference laboratories are currently being upgraded.
He also noted efforts in other health areas, including the distribution of 16.6 million insecticide-treated nets as part of malaria prevention campaigns.
In total, Nigeria has received $95.5 million in donor commitments to support ongoing health interventions.
Still, the funding gap has stalled critical activities, and Tajudeen urged stakeholders to act swiftly to prevent a health crisis.
“Screening alone is not enough; without treatment, we risk fueling the very epidemic we seek to control,” he warned.
Experts say the growing number of untreated TB cases poses a major threat to national health targets and increases the risk of widespread community transmission if not urgently addressed.