The week of 19 March was action packed with numerous events that took place in Abuja, Nigeria to commemorate World TB Day.
Starting with 22 March, a delegation led by the global Stop TB Partnership and the Nigeria national Stop TB Partnership met with Her Excellency Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President of Nigeria. She communicated her commitment to mobilize the Wives of the Governors of States of Nigeria as well as the Wives of the Heads of Governments of high TB burden countries in Africa to ensure political visibility and leadership as well as concrete actions on the field.
On the same day in the National assembly, Nigeria launched a forum for parliamentarians and political leaders to complement the efforts to end TB in the country. The caucus will mobilize parliamentarians and politicians in Nigeria to engage in policies, legislature, financing and oversight of the TB response in the country. Key speakers at the event included the Nigerian Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole, Leaders of the Senate, House and Committees, and representatives from USAID, the global Stop TB Partnership and the Nigeria national Stop TB Partnership.
On 23 March, Prof Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health of Nigeria launched the new child-friendly first-line anti-TB medicines, supplied by the Global Drug Facility of the Stop TB Partnership. The new medicines are both dispersible and flavored and meet the WHO optimal dosing recommendations for all children. Speaking at the event, the Minister reiterated his commitment to find the missing people with TB in and ensured his government’s commitment in ending TB in Nigeria. Dr Suvanand Sahu from Stop TB Partnership highlighted the role of political leaders and TB survivors in finding the missing men, women and children with TB in the country. Other speakers at the event included TB survivors and representatives from the Govt. of Nigeria, WHO, USAID, CDC and national Stop TB Partnership.