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Nigeria Recorded 467,000 TB Cases in 2023 – Tinubu

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The wife of President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, revealed that Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000, Tuberculosis, TB, cases in 2023. Oluremi stated this while declaring open the three days 2024 National conference on TB, organized by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria’in Abuja.

She lamented that TB still remains the leading cause of death, as Nigeria ranks 6th highest burden globally and there has been a steady increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB.
The theme is ‘Public-Private Partnership and Integrated Service Delivery: Panacea to End TB in Nigeria.’According to her, “I want to appreciate the organizers of this event especially Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of the Honourable Coordinating Minister, Prof.
Muhammad Ali Pate, CON. Your commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, especially the health and well-being of Nigerians is commendable.”We are here today because despite the progress we have all made in the fight against the disease, the global burden of TB still remains alarming, particularly in low and middle-income countries like ours.”Globally, and according to the 2024 World Tuberculosis Report by the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, with 1.6 million people losing their lives, and 12% of the global burden affecting the most vulnerable – the children and young adolescents”.She lamented, “Tuberculosis is still a leading cause of death in Nigeria. The country ranks as the sixth highest burden country across the world and first in Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 also reveals that Nigeria recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in 2023”.She said, “Despite these challenges, I am encouraged by the progress that has been made so far. Thanks to the commitment of the Tinubu administration, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, and international partners. Subsequently, we have seen a steady increase in the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB.”However, as we celebrate our successes, we must also acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. We cannot afford to be complacent, and I assure you that the Federal Government, remains fully committed to achieving the global TB targets by 2035.”To achieve this, we will require sustained investment, innovative strategies, and a renewed focus on breaking the barriers that prevent people from accessing the care and support that they desperately need”.Mrs Tinubu, noted that, as the Global and National Stop TB Champion, she is committed the collective fight against TB.” I believe that the solution to ending TB lies in the strength of our partnerships both public and private, and in the integrated delivery of services that leave no one behind.”I am glad that the money I donated earlier this year has been used judiciously to procure more TB diagnostics tools which will help to increase TB diagnosis and case finding”.She stressed that the conference will provide the platform not only to share experiences and knowledge but also to recommit to the common goal of ending TB. “The discussions, the partnerships, and the strategies that will emerge from this conference will serve as the foundation for the actions we must take in the coming years”, she noted.She commended all the stakeholders for their unwavering commitment towards ending TB in Nigeria, “I also appreciate the efforts of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Stop TB Partnership Global, and our development partners especially the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Global Fund, for your continued support.”To the health workers, community leaders, activists and TB survivors who are tirelessly working on the frontlines, you are the true heroes of this fight, and we are grateful for your dedication.”I am confident that, united in our efforts, we can and will end TB in Nigeria and contribute to the global fight to eradicate this devastating disease”.In his keynote address the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, said yes, Tuberculosis affects millions in Nigeria , especially the vulnerable populations, including women, mothers, and grandmothers and tackling the disease requires an inclusive, rights-based, and gender-responsive approach that leaves no one behind.”Through this initiative, the Nigerian private sector has committed up to $25 million over time to support TB-related activities. Private sector engagement is critical, as these organizations employ large numbers of workers in industries such as banking, oil and gas, cement production, and telecommunications. By integrating TB control into workplace health programs and expanding health insurance coverage, the private sector is playing a pivotal role in our fight against TB”, he said .In his goodwill message at the occasion Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo the World Health Organisation,WHO, Country Representative (WR) to Nigeria, lamented the 60% funding gap in the country, which has affected undiagnosed and untreated cases.He said though Nigeria is one of the 13 countries estimated to have achieved a reduction of 50% or more in number of deaths caused by TB between 2015 and 2023. He added that Nigeria has seen an increase in TB case detection and treatment success rates with TB treatment coverage increasing from 59% in 2022 to 74% in 2023. He said, “Despite advancements, TB remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. The TB burden in Nigeria is characterized by large numbers of undiagnosed and untreated cases and huge funding gaps (60% gap in 2023). The dual burden of TB and HIV further complicates our response, while multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to rise, requiring more complex and resource-intensive treatment strategies. Additionally, stigma and socio-economic barriers—such as poverty, malnutrition, and limited access to health services continue to worsen the burden of TB in the country”.

NEWS

Diri Campaigns Against Drug Abuse, Trafficking

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From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri yesterday, led a campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking as part of activities commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Diri advised people of the state, particularly the youths, to shun hard drugs and trafficking of illicit substances, saying they were harmful to their health and to the society.

The Bayelsa governor, who spoke shortly after the weekly Prosperity Walk exercise at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, also urged youths to develop themselves by acquiring a skill and work towards actualising their God-given potential.

“We just completed a nine to 10km walk, which is a test of our fitness. As it is said, health is wealth.

“Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. We are not only observing the global campaign, we are also leading it here in Bayelsa.

“No one in his right senses goes to commit crime and violent acts except that individuals are under the influence of hard drugs. My advice to youths is to be self-confident, have the fear of God and develop your innate potential for you to become a star.”

He implored youths to emulate the shining example of a Bayelsa-born United States-based athlete, Victory Godah, who was discovered through the state’s sports programmes.

He commended her gesture of donating sporting equipment as a way of giving back to the state.

“Victory Godah from Ekeremor local government area was discovered here and because of her skill, she is now at the University of Minnesota, United States. She has given back to the state through sports equipment so that more of us can have that access.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, emphasised the importance of the weekly walk, stating that participants above 40 years would have their blood pressure controlled after taking about 5,000 steps.

Also, state chairman of the Drug Abuse, Addiction, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee, Dr Peter Owonaro, said the committee’s outreach in the state had been a huge success, noting that a recent research indicated that the drug abuse prevalence rate in Bayelsa dropped by five per cent from 21.4 per cent.

Also, the state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kanu Sunny, lauded the state government for its unprecedented support in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

He said the campaign was taken to secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions and encouraged all to join in the war against the menace.

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Foreign News

Ally of Cameroon President, 92, Quits ‘Broken’ Government to Challenge Him

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Issa Tchiroma Bakary – a prominent minister and long-time ally of President Paul Biya – has quit Cameroon’s government, in the hope of ending 92-year-old Biya’s four-decade grip on power in upcoming elections.

Just four months before the central African nation went to the polls, Tchiroma said the Biya administration he belonged to had “broken” public trust and he was switching to a rival party.

“A country cannot exist in the service of one man,” he said on Wednesday.

While he was communications minister, Tchiroma notably came under fire for denying – then backtracking on his denial – that Cameroonian soldiers had killed women and children in a viral video.

His other roles during almost two decades in government include being a spokesman for the Biya government, and, until his resignation on Tuesday, he was employment minister.

Paul Biya – the world’s oldest head of state – has yet to confirm if he will attempt an eighth term as president. Last year, the country banned reports on the president’s health following rumours he had died.

As this election approaches, high unemployment and soaring living costs are of concern to many Cameroonians, as are corruption and security. A separatist insurgency in the English-speaking provinces as well as jihadists operating in the northernmost region have forced many thousands of Cameroonians from their homes in the past decade.

Cracks in Tchiroma’s relationship with President Biya were blown open earlier this month, when he told crowds in his home city of Garoua that Biya’s time in power had not benefited them in any way.

Tchiroma, widely reported to be 75, continued this criticism in a 24-page manifesto released a day after his resignation – promising to dismantle “the old system” so that Cameroon could move beyond “abuse, contempt, and the confiscation of power”.

One of his proposed solutions is federalism – he is offering to hold a referendum on devolving more power to Cameroon’s 10 provinces. This has long been mooted by many as a solution to the country’s so-called Anglophone crisis.

Specifically addressing English-speaking Cameroonians, who have long complained of marginalisation and discrimination in Francophone-dominated public institutions, he said “you do not need people to speak for you – you need to be listened to” and that “centralisation has failed”.

Tchiroma also used his manifesto to say Cameroon “has been ruled for decades by the same vision, the same system. This model, long presented as a safeguard of stability, has gradually stifled progress, paralysed our institutions, and broken the bond of trust between the state and its citizens”.

As the October presidential election approaches, rights groups have condemned the government’s crackdown on dissent.

Shortly after Tchiroma announced his plans to run for the presidency, the government reportedly announced a ban on all political activities by his Cameroon National Salvation Front (CNSF) party in a sub-district of the Far North region – a part of the country where he is said to be an influential power-broker.

Weeks earlier, fellow presidential hopeful Maurice Kamto had his movements curtailed during a two-day police stakeout in Douala, after promising supporters at a rally in Paris that he would protect Biya and his family if he wins in October.

Parliamentary elections that were also supposed to take place earlier this year have been delayed until 2026.

Reaction to Tchiroma’s presidential bid has been mixed – some think he is canny.

“By positioning himself as the elder statesman who ‘saw the fire coming’, Tchiroma is hedging that his break with Biya will be seen as bold – not opportunistic,” Cameroonian analyst and broadcaster Jules Domshe said.

“From economic fallout to youth unemployment, insecurity, and growing unrest in the North-West, South-West, and Far North [regions], Cameroon is ripe for change.”

Opposition voices are divided – some want Tchiroma to support Kamto, who was the runner-up in 2018 with 14% of votes. But others say he is tainted by his long association with Biya.

“He cannot embody change… He was part of the system for too long. The youth do not trust him,” says Abdoulaye Harissou, a legal notary and prominent critic once detained by the government.

Another member of the opposition – Jean Michel Nintcheu of the APC coalition – simply said: “We don’t see Tchiroma as a potential winner.”

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Foreign News

Crash Kills 29 Pupils Taking Exams after Blast in Central Africa

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Torough David, Abuja

Twenty-nine children who were taking their school exams in the Central African Republic have been killed in a crash after a nearby explosion caused panic, a hospital director disclosed.

The blast, on the second day of the high-school finals on Wednesday, occurred at an electricity transformer, said Abel Assaye from the Bangui community hospital.

“The noise of the explosion, combined with smoke” caused alarm among the almost 6,000 students sitting the baccalaureate at a school in the capital, Bangui, local radio station Ndeke Luka reported.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has declared a period of national mourning.

He also ordered that the more than 280 who were wounded in the crash get free treatment in hospital.

Students from five different schools in the capital had gone to the Lycée Barthélémy Boganda to sit the baccalaureate exam.

The education ministry said the explosion happened after power was restored at the electricity transformer, located on the ground floor of the main building that had been undergoing repairs.

“I also offer our sincere condolences to the parents of the affected candidates and wish a speedy recovery to the injured candidates,” Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zimgas said in a statement.

He also announced the suspension of further exams.

A female survivor said.

“I don’t even remember what happened. We were in the exam room and when I heard a noise, I immediately fell into a daze,” she said. “Since then, I have had a pain in my pelvis that is causing me a lot of problems.”

Radio France Internationale spoke to another student whose face was covered in blood after he had climbed out of a window.

Magloire explained that the blast happened during the history and geography exam.

“The students wanted to save their lives, and as they fled, they saw death because there were so many people and the door was really small. Not everyone could get out,” he told RFI.

The CAR continues to face political instability and security challenges.

Government forces, backed by Russian mercenaries, are battling armed groups threatening to overthrow Touadéra’s administration.

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