The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged increased domestic funding and stronger community engagement to sustain progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria.

Mya Ngon, Cluster Lead for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO Nigeria, made the call on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World TB Day.

Ms Ngon said that while progress had been made, significant gaps remained, particularly in reaching underserved populations most vulnerable to TB infection and poor treatment outcomes.

Highlighting the 2025 theme, “Yes, we can end TB”, led by the Federal Ministry of Health and powered by communities, she said that ending TB was achievable with sustained investment, accountability, and collective action.

“We must stand together with millions affected by TB and remember those who have lost their lives. Ending TB is possible with strong leadership and active community involvement,” she said.

She emphasised that TB was not only a health issue but also a socio-economic concern, with financial burdens on patients and households hindering timely diagnosis and treatment.

Ms Ngon called for financial risk protection measures and stronger domestic resource mobilisation, noting that Nigeria could not rely solely on external funding, as support from the Global Fund might decline in future cycles.

“Nigeria is already preparing proposals for the next funding round while strengthening internal financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable TB programmes,” she said.

She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to providing technical guidance, policy development, and global best practices to support Nigeria’s TB response and improved patient outcomes.

“WHO regularly updates TB treatment and prevention guidelines based on emerging scientific evidence to ensure better care and effectiveness,” she said.

Ms Ngon highlighted efforts to expand access to TB diagnosis and treatment through innovative approaches and integration into primary healthcare services, ensuring timely care for more Nigerians.

Ongoing research for new TB vaccines, particularly for adults, remains critical, she said, while routine childhood vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) continued to protect children from severe TB.

She called for strengthened partnerships among government, development partners, civil society, and communities to achieve national TB targets and ensure no one was left behind.

“Communities and the media play a vital role in translating scientific information into messages that people can easily understand,” she said.

According to Ms Ngon, misinformation and lack of awareness are major drivers of stigma, which continues to hinder TB detection and treatment efforts nationwide.

Ms Ngon emphasised that ending TB required collective responsibility, with individuals, communities, and institutions all playing active roles in prevention, detection, and treatment.

(NAN)