On Tuesday, Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, announced that 15,000 residents have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in 2024. However, he revealed that approximately 32,000 people in Lagos are believed to be living with the disease, leaving around 17,000 cases undetected.
Abayomi made this announcement during the investiture ceremony for the Champions and Ambassadors of the Lagos Steering Committee for TB, which is led by Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of the Lagos State governor. He stressed the urgent need for increased diagnostic efforts, stating, “Federal Government statistics indicate that we should identify 32,000 Lagosians with tuberculosis. We have only diagnosed 15,000 this year, meaning 17,000 individuals are currently living with undiagnosed active TB in our community.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has the highest TB burden in Africa, with 268 people losing their lives daily due to underreported cases. This alarming situation raises the risk of transmission, with estimates suggesting that one undiagnosed case can infect up to 15 others within a year.
The WHO highlighted that the detection gap is especially pronounced among children due to insufficient training of health workers at both facility and community levels in recognizing childhood TB. Additionally, a lack of awareness among families and the failure to integrate TB services into routine children’s health programs, such as nutrition and immunization, further complicate the situation.
Provisional data shows that Nigeria reported over 361,000 TB cases in 2023, with 9% involving children—a 26% increase from the previous year.
In a proactive response to this public health challenge, local government chairpersons and their spouses were appointed as champions and ambassadors to combat tuberculosis in Lagos State.
Abayomi urged these ambassadors to locate and assist the 15,000 individuals in need of treatment, which is provided free of charge.
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu expressed her enthusiasm for finally launching this initiative after five years of planning. “I first became interested in this cause in 2019, and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition in 2024. It has been a long journey, and I am grateful to God for making it possible,” she said.
Cecilia Magbogunje, Deputy Director and Program Manager of the Lagos State Steering Committee for Tuberculosis, underscored the importance of community engagement, noting that the leadership of local government chairpersons’ wives will help raise awareness, mobilize resources, and cultivate a culture of health in the community.
