No 15 Onikepo Akande Street,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State.
Nigeria
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious airborne infectious disease caused by a germ, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, transmitted through inhalation of droplets containing the infectious organism. An estimated 10.6 million people (95% UI: 9.9–11 million) fell ill with TB globally in 2021. As a chronic respiratory tract condition, it primarily affects the lungs but can impact other parts of the body such as the spine, brain, or kidneys. The infection results in two possible conditions: TB disease or latent TB infection. Symptoms include persistent cough, chest pain, tiredness, night sweats, fever, and appetite and weight loss. TB is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and if left untreated or not properly treated, it can be fatal.
The 2017 World Health Organisation (WHO) global report ranked TB among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, with Nigeria classified among the 14 countries with a high burden of TB. According to the global TB reports of 2017, seven countries accounted for 64 percent of the burden, and 30 countries were listed as having high disease burdens. Nigeria ranked seventh globally, after India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, and South Africa, making it the second-highest TB burden in Africa after South Africa in 2017.
Data from WHO shows that two-thirds of global TB cases are concentrated in eight countries: India (28 percent), Indonesia (9.2 percent), China (7.4 percent), the Philippines (7.0 percent), Pakistan (5.8 percent), Nigeria (4.6 percent), Bangladesh (3.6 percent), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2.9 percent). Nigeria now tops the list of African countries with the highest TB burden and is ranked sixth among the 30 high-burden TB countries worldwide, accounting for 4.6% of the global TB burden and 23 percent of TB-related deaths in Africa. Nigeria also faces a triple burden of TB, drug-resistant TB, and HIV-associated TB. In the 2021-2025 list of TB-HIV high-burden countries, Nigeria is included among countries burdened with HIV-resistant TB.
The 2017 global report recorded 403,000 TB cases in Nigeria, with 157,000 deaths. Since then, this number has steadily declined up to 2021, when 467,000 cases and 125,000 deaths were reported, reflecting a death-to-infection rate of 26.77 percent in 2021. Despite this decline, the disturbing fact remains that since 2017, when WHO reported that 18 Nigerians die from TB every hour—totaling 400 deaths daily—the figure has not changed, even up to 2024. This alarming trend persists over seven years and continues to increase.
In 2023, Nigeria reported over 361,000 new TB cases, with 9% occurring in children. This represented a 26% increase in cases compared to 2022. The current TB prevalence rate stands at 219 per 100,000 people. With Nigeria’s population of approximately 200 million, this prevalence translates to around 500,000 TB-related deaths per year. TB, therefore, claims more lives than COVID-19, despite being a preventable and curable disease. The death toll is unacceptable.
One significant challenge facing Nigeria’s National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) is under-reporting of TB cases, which increases transmission risk. Additionally, the presence of many undetected TB carriers means they can potentially infect 12-15% of Nigeria’s population each year. This is especially concerning given Nigeria’s ongoing battles with other diseases like Lassa fever, malaria, and meningitis.
Successfully eradicating TB as a global public health scourge requires international collaboration and partnership. Middle and low-income countries will need continued international assistance, including increased funding for diagnostic capabilities, drug supplies, health worker training, and outreach activities. Given their heightened vulnerability, people living with HIV need special attention. Regular testing should also be prioritized for children, while states and local governments should revitalize primary healthcare centers to provide first-line case detection, diagnosis, referral, and follow-up care.
Nigeria’s three tiers of government should actively participate in multilateral TB programs, attracting financial, material, and technical support, in addition to raising awareness about TB and available treatments through traditional and social media. The government should also prioritize local manufacturing of TB drugs to reduce dependency on imports and curb the proliferation of fake medicines. Despite TB’s highly contagious nature, it is both preventable and treatable. With determined and coordinated efforts, the spread of TB can be halted.
Like WHO and other partners dedicated to ending TB in Nigeria, NIFDEM/MEDELA is committed to joining forces with the Government of Nigeria and all stakeholders to eradicate TB. We fully support initiatives to detect and treat TB cases promptly and are dedicated to helping “kick TB out of Nigeria
Share This News