Abeokuta – In commemoration of the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has called for increased collaboration with the private sector to strengthen efforts in eradicating the disease in Nigeria.
In a statement released today, Mrs. Abiodun highlighted Nigeria’s classification as a high TB-burden country, emphasizing that the airborne disease does not discriminate based on gender or social status. She noted that individuals with low socio-economic status are particularly vulnerable.
The Ogun State government, she said, has implemented proactive measures to curb TB prevalence, including equipping health facilities with free TB services. The state now boasts over 600 Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) sites across its 20 Local Government Areas, supported by 16 Gene Xpert machines and more than 70 microscopy sites for efficient diagnosis.
Under this year’s theme, **”Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,”** Mrs. Abiodun stressed the need for a people-centered approach, increased investment, and sustained efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination. She urged private health practitioners, patent medicine vendors, and community pharmacists to join the fight against TB.
The First Lady also encouraged individuals with persistent cough lasting two weeks or more to seek free testing and treatment, warning that an untreated TB case could infect up to 20 others. She further advised health workers to utilize modern diagnostic tools and urged religious and media organizations to amplify awareness campaigns.
TB remains a leading cause of death in Nigeria, but with early detection and treatment, the disease is curable. Ogun State continues to record a high success rate in treating cases, reinforcing the call for collective action to eliminate the epidemic.
