Laide Akinboade,Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) at the weekend, launched a grassroots social mobilisation exercise to promote birth registration in the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, launched the programme in Abuja,.

She said rural birth registration is aim to address the low level of birth registration, especially children that are born outside the health center in the rural areas.

The exercise, is in collaboration with UNICEF Nigeria, Nigeria Population Commission (NPC), Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and National Orientation Agency (NOA), .

The Mandate Secretary who was represented by Director, Child Development Department, Dr Idris Yahaya Attah, emphasised the importance of birth registration.

The Mandate Secretary said, the initiative, was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to ensure every child is registered and documented, paving way for a brighter future.

“A lot of children are born outside hospitals and in remote communities. These children need to be properly captured and documented as citizens of the FCT and Nigeria”, She said.

Benjamins-Laniyi stressed that accurate data is crucial for planning and development, urging Abaji communities to cooperate with the FCT Administration to ensure they benefit from democratic dividends. UNICEF Nigeria, represented by Mrs Phydelia Abbas, is supporting this initiative.

The exercise, which began on March 26, will cover all Area Councils, with the following schedule:

• Abaji – March 26, 2026 (completed)
• Bwari – March 30, 2026
• Kwali – April 8, 2026
• Gwagwalada- April 9, 2026
• Kuje- April 10, 2026
• AMAC – April 13, 2026

The registration is free for children aged 0-1 year and 1-5 years. .

as Treatment success rates for TB is 94%

By Laide Akinboade,Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) revealed at the weekend, that Abuja has over 16,000 annual burden of Tuberculosis (TB) cases.

FCT Director public health, ‎Dr Dan Gasama , stated this at the community outreach in commemoration of 2026 World Tuberculosis Day, organized by Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat (FCT-HSES), Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP),and other partners, in Abuja.

Gasama added that, the treatment success rate for Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria is now 94 percent when detected early.

The theme for 2026 celebrations ‘Yes, we can. We can end TB’.

People trooped out in their hundreds from Mabushi community and they were screened and tested for TB, Malaria, etc, and people were given free medications for malaria and some other minor ailments, some were refered to bigger hospitals.

Gasama said, TB remain one of the world’s oldest infectious diseases, and a public health concern globally and nationally, despite being preventable and curable, it continues to claim lives and disrupt families and communities.

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‎He noted, “An estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB in 2014, with1.23 million deaths including 150,000 deaths among people with HIV.

“With prevalence of 219/100,000, Nigeria remain one of the countries with high TB burden , and FCT also has estimated annual burden of 16,000 cases.

“The country notified over 467,000in 2025 , the highest ever in our history. Treatment success rate have reached an impressive 94%, demonstrating that when TB is detected early and treated properly, it can be cured . Additionally TB mortality has been reduced by 63% between 2015 -2024”, Dr. Dan said.

He said in FCT in 2025, FCT-TBLCP recorded it highest achievement to date, over 40,171 presumptive TB clients were identified and screened while 3,679 TB cases were notified the highest in history.

He noted that one of the unique commemorations of this year is the dedication to high-burden communities, where they take the message to their doorsteps.

The in her goodwill message, Dr. Jenny Momoh, who represented Dr. Jibrin Alkasim, the FCT state coordinator for World Health Organisation (WHO), said reiterated the commitment of the world body to eradicating TB completely. Which according to her is visible when countries, communities, and partners unite with purpose and determination.

WHO commended all the health workers and partners for their determination, supports and commitment, that has helped to save lives.

“Despite the challenges, we have seen remarkable advances in diagnostics, treatment options, digital tools, and community‑centered care. Yet millions still face barriers to timely diagnosis and quality treatment. This is why our collective action remains essential. Ending TB requires sustained investment, innovation, and a strong multisectoral response that leaves no one behind”, she noted .

Teresa Jatau, who spoke on behalf of National Coordinator TB network, in her goodwill message said, she is very happy with the turnout of people for the programme.

She reiterated the need for all hands to be on desk in order to completely eradicate TB on Nigeria.

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She also remind Nigerians that TB affect children as well, “By collectively working together and collectively amplifying the voices of the community, amplifying the voices of even children. Oftentimes we have conversations about TB, but we neglect the children. But here, we should be reminded that children too are often affected by TB. And so they should be at the center of our conversation”.

She said TB network is committed to continue to do the work at the community level to ensure that everyone gets the information, the correct information, knows where to go to and seek care in case they are tested positive.

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Experts in health sector on Friday, screened over 800 people for Tuberculosis (TB), in some selected rural communities in Abuja.

The screening exercise that was in commemoration of 2026 World Tuberculosis Day, organized by Debriche health development CENTRE (DHDC), Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, FCT Tuberculosis program and Partners, .

And those that were confirmed to be infected with TB were immediately referred to life-saving treatment, care and support services, with ongoing contact tracing.

The team visited targeted communities and schools in Karshi and the dense settlements of Dutsen Alhaji in Bwari, in FCT.

The team successfully screened over 800 persons, including children and teachers, across these locations. From this initial group, 69 persons were identified as presumptive requiring further clinical investigation. Those confirmed positive have been immediately linked to available life-saving treatment, care and support services, with ongoing contact tracing”.

The experts that participated in the out reach, expressed their excitement on the out come.

Mrs Deborah Ikeh , Executive Director DHDC, Nigeria, said “Every person with TB identified early represents a transmission chain broken and a proactive strike against the complex challenge of drug-resistant TB. We are excited about the outcome of this intervention”.

Dr. Titilayo Ilesanmi, Childhood TB Focal Person, FCT TB Programme, said, “This fieldwork aligns directly with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme targets for World TB Day 2026 and we are delighted to have partners like DHDC, ARFH, and KNCV Nigeria with us on this Journey”.

They lamented that TB remains a critical public health threat in Nigeria. When left undetected, or wrongly managed, the disease not only jeopardises a person’s physical development but also creates the perfect environment for drug-resistant strains to emerge.

They agreed that, protecting vulnerable populations sometimes requires moving health interventions beyond traditional clinic walls and taking awareness, screening and testing services to their doorsteps.

Their main objective is to provide comprehensive TB awareness, immediate screening, and on-the-spot testing for persons who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the standard health system.

“This programme is an eye opener for all of us here in this school. We are now better informed of TB, its signs and symptoms and the help that is available. People with TB are not to be stigmatized. I call on community members to consider them as humans like us”, Shafiratu Inua Adha , Head teacher of Karshi Muslim Forum