By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The National Coordinator of the African Coalition on Tuberculosis in Nigeria, Ibrahim Umoru, recently said despite Coronavirus (Covid-19) challenges, Nigeria was able to exceed World Health Organisation, WHO’s by 15%.

Umoru stated this at the community sessions of the just concluded National TB conference in Abuja, where delegates from over 20 countries shared their country-specific experiences on TB elimination.

He emphasized the need for resources and commitment, as exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic in achieving the goal of ending TB by 2030 in Nigeria.

He therefore urged for broader collaboration, political will and realignment of priorities, Umoru explained if well meaning corporations and individuals prioritized and champion TB cause like other causes, the end of TB fight is imminent.

According to Umoru, “With the right diagnostics, resources, and support, we can achieve the 2030 goal,” he said.

Similarly, Deborah Ike, the Executive Director of the Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC), highlighting the challenges being confronting Nigeria in the fight against TB stress the need to break all barriers in order to meet the 2030 target for TB eradication.  

Ike noted that a lot more needs to be done in the areas of education and awareness as stigmatization and discrimination remain major barriers.

“Even though testing and treatment are free in Nigeria, many still die because they’re afraid to access these services. 

“Some people avoid seeking treatment because they fear being judged. 

“Others have lost jobs due to TB, which not only worsens their economic situation but can also lead to further psychological and physical decline.”  

Ike emphasized the critical need for effective information dissemination to combat stigma, adding that it is important for people to understand that a person on treatment can no longer spread the disease, unlike one who has refused to be treated.

“This knowledge will reduce fear, encourage treatment, and help cut the chain of transmission”.
 
A Director for Tuberculosis at Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Dr Bolatito Aiyedigba, highlighted some of the innovations used to increase case detection such as the Check Am slogan, to encourage community people to test their lingering coughs.

”Some of the innovations were introduced during the COVID-19 era, COVID came with cough and cough is usually associated with tuberculosis as well. So it could be tuberculosis. Not every cough is due to COVID, so check it.

”Cough is due to different kinds of illnesses. And until you check, you will not know. And we also worked with the national TB hotline, when they call, they are directed on what to do, asked more questions and their fears are allayed, so they can get the appropriate testing. So that really, really helped. In addition to all the other innovations that came into the facility, testing was also improved.”

Aiyedigba also informed that the stigmatisation of people living with TB is still very high in Nigeria, noting that the country needs to tackle the menace.

”This is the next line of action that we’re going to tackle. Because now we’re fighting the TB cases, we’re putting them on treatment but we have to address the issue of stigma.

”And the stigma starts from self-stigmatisation, there’s no need to stigmatise yourself for having tuberculosis because tuberculosis is curable and treatable.

National TB Conference is an annual event organisedthe Stop TB Partnership Nigeria. The 2024 edition , themed “Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria,” was organised by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The three day event brought together Representatives from Stop TB Partnership Geneva, public health experts, community and civil organisations, private and public stakeholders from across the world, amongst many others.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Government, FG, at the weekend revealed that about 40% of the 35 million under 5 children in Nigeria are stunted in 2023.Director and Head of Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, revealed this at the 8 annual conference, organized by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists, ANHeJ, in Abuja.

She said 8% are wasted, 27% are under weight, and 29% are Successfully breastfed, SBF. The theme for the two day conference was, ‘SWAP effectiveness in addressing poor health outcomes: The role of the media’.According to her, ” Globally, Nigeria is raved 2 and 1 in Africa in the number of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM. Furthermore, research shows that, 31% of women consumed Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements during pregnancy and out of the 35 million children under 5 years of age population, 14 million children are stunted while 3 million are wasted. “Out of 7 million children born per year in Nigeria 42% are breastfed within an hour of birth. 29% exclusively breastfed upto 6 months of age . 3% breastfed upto 23 months of age. 23% receive diverse diet (minimum 5 groups). 11% receive minimally acceptable diet . 26% vitamin A supplementation coverage” .Bako-Aiyegbusi, who enumerated the causes of malnutrition in Nigeria which include, inadequate food intake, lack of dietary.diversity , and infectious diseases. On what the federal government is doing, she said the government has done the revised National policy on food and nutrition in Nigeria which provide an overarching framework for multisectorial action, to reduce malnutrition in the country. Earlier, the FG also reiterated its commitment to accessible health policies and services that are geared towards achieving improved health outcomes in Nigeria.The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, who was represented by Dr. Angis Ikpe, of the policy and planning department of the Ministry, explained that in order to achieve improved health outcomes in the country, the Ministry have embraced the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) strategy to unify the efforts of thegovernment, partners, and stakeholders, maximizing impact, enhancingaccountability, and eliminating redundancies.According to Kachollom, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRIl) exemplifies the government unwavering commitment to revitalizing the health sector “Through targetedinvestments, we aim to strengthen primary healthcare (PHC) systems to deliver efficient maternal and child health services, tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS), address Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and confront infectiousdiseases. “These efforts also include a robust, ongoing response to HIV/AIDS andTuberculosis and Malaria.In the field of Maternal and Child Health, we remain unwavering in our commitmentto enhance service delivery and improve health outcomes.”The strengthening ofovision Primary Healthcare (PHC) systems, bolstered by the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), has significantly increased access to vital services in underserved communities. Notably, the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction InnovationInitiative (MAMII) exemplifies these efforts by offering free cesarean sections to eligible women, thereby improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.”The Permanent Secretary also commended the invaluablecontributions of health journalists in shaping public perception and holding stakeholders accountable, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working hand-in- hand with the media in promoting health awareness, countering misinformation, andensuring transparency and accountability within the health sector.The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), Dr Patrick Dakum, in his good will message commended ANHEJ’s consistency in sustaining the forum for the press and stakeholders in the health sector together, deliberate on pertinent issues, and forge a way forward for better health in Nigeria. Dakum noted that the theme of the conference is apt, as the importance of collaboration in strengthening health systems can not be overemphasized. He further said the IHVN remains committed to aligning its activities with the Government of Nigeria’s health sector plans. Recognising other roles of the media, such as holding the government accountable to its people and encouraging better domestic funding for health programs and research, commended ANHEJ for the initiative in ensuring that the health needs of all Nigerians are met. The President of ANHEJ, Mr Joseph Kadiri, earlier in welcome address, said theme of the conference is aimed at addressing the numerous challenges confronting Nigeria’s health sector, such as inadequate funding, inefficient resource allocation, and poor service delivery. “As journalists, we play a vital role in promoting health awareness, education, and advocacy. Through our reporting, we can hold stakeholders accountable for their actions and policies, provide a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, promote evidence-based health information and best practices, and advocate for policy changes and increased funding for health programs.”He noted that despite the media’s potential to enhance SWAp effectiveness, several challenges persist, including limited access to health information and data, inadequate training and capacity building for health journalists, and insufficient funding for health reporting and programming. The President further reiterates ANHEJ’s interest in supporting the federal government and development partners in the amplification of their activities through its health promotion reportage and programmes.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria is an achievable goal, but it requires innovative approaches that can address the unique barriers faced by women in underserved communities.

An expert on health related matters, Dr Godwin Emmanuel stated while interacting with newsmen as part of activities commemorating the just concluded World Aids Day in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Dr.

Emmanuel who is the Managing Partner/Impact Officer of MOZUK Future Solutions Limited, stated that the World AIDS Day have come and gone, yet Nigeria government must not fail to examine some of the gaps that must be urgently bridged as a nation.

He explained that each year, thousands of children are born with HIV, largely due to inadequate access to testing and treatment during pregnancy, disclosing that the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that Nigeria contributes about 22% of global paediatric HIV cases which indicates the urgent need for innovative approaches to curb MTCT.

“This brings me to a recent study in Lagos and Kano which demonstrated how HIV self-testing kits offer a practical, effective, and scalable solution to our MTCT challenges.

“The study interrogates an initiative seeking to integrate HIV Self-Test (HIVST) kits into TBA services as part of a broader strategy to eliminate MTCT.

“The intervention targeted underserved communities where healthcare access is limited, leveraging the trust and accessibility of TBAs to distribute self-testing kits and provide essential counselling”.

According to him, the study, led by Dr. Toriola Adebayo of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Dr. Usman Bashir of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, articulated the role of local expertise in advancing healthcare solutions tailored to community needs.

“In this intervention, 182 TBA clinics across three local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos and Kano States were equipped with HIVST kits. TBAs received extensive training on the administration of the tests, pre- and post-test counselling, and linkage to care for those who tested positive.

“Among the 1,982 pregnant women enrolled in the study, pre-intervention testing rates were markedly low, with just 60% in Lagos and 38% in Kano having ever been tested for HIV. After the introduction of HIVST, testing uptake surged, with all participants voluntarily using the kits during antenatal visits.

“The results were promising:
HIV Positivity Rate: An overall positivity rate of 0.8% was recorded, with slightly higher rates in Lagos (1.1%) compared to Kano (0.8%).

“First-Time Testers: Remarkably, 80% of those who tested positive were undergoing HIV testing for the first time.
Linkage to Care: All HIV-positive individuals were successfully linked to ART services, demonstrating the effectiveness of the TBA-led model in bridging gaps in healthcare access.

“The success of this initiative exemplifies how HIVST can become a cornerstone of affirmative action against paediatric HIV infections, which was also a critical focus of World AIDS Day observances.

“As evidenced by the success of the Lagos and Kano initiative, when confidentiality, stigma reduction, and leveraging trusted community figures like TBAs are prioritised, HIVST has the potential to transform PMTCT efforts across Nigeria.

“This is even more so with sustained investment, community buy-in, and political will. This can move us closer to a future where no child is born with HIV and every mother has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life”, Dr. Emmanuel alluded.

He further revealed that HIV self-testing kits offer a simple, private, and effective means of determining one’s HIV status, adding that the kits allow individuals to test themselves using a saliva sample or a small drop of blood, with results available in minutes.

Highlighting the importance, the health, said the convenience and confidentiality of this method are particularly appealing to those who might avoid traditional testing due to stigma or fear of disclosure.

He stated that the fear of being judged or ostracised often prevents pregnant women from seeking HIV testing, stressing that HIVST kits allow individuals to test in the comfort of their homes or a private setting, without fear of disclosure. This is particularly crucial for pregnant women, who may face compounded stigma if diagnosed with HIV.

“Increased Testing Uptake as demonstrated shown the intervention in Lagos and Kano demonstrates that when provided with confidential and convenient testing options, more women are willing to know their HIV status. Early diagnosis is key to initiating ART, which can reduce the risk of MTCT to less than 1%.