Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor, has raised serious concerns over the rising number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state, revealing that approximately 18,541 residents are currently affected by the infectious disease. Speaking at the investiture ceremony of the wives of Local Government Area (LGA) and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairmen as chairpersons of the newly inaugurated TB Steering Committee and the STOP TB Partnership, Dr. Sanwo-Olu stressed the need for collective action to combat the growing public health threat.
During the ceremony, held at the Lagos House in Ikeja, the governor’s wife called on relevant stakeholders to support the fight against TB, emphasizing that the participation of local government leadership, particularly the newly appointed female chairpersons, would play a critical role in grassroots advocacy and raising awareness about TB in their communities. “The role of the chairmen, alongside the female chairmen and the wives of our LGA chairmen, is crucial for grassroots advocacy. They will drive TB awareness initiatives, advocate for policy reforms, and ensure sustainable budgetary allocations each year to facilitate effective planning for care from the outset,” she stated.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu, who serves as a TB Champion and Ambassador, highlighted the serious threat TB poses to public health globally, especially in densely populated areas like Lagos. She noted that TB is not only a health issue but a matter of public safety and economic well-being. “Health is wealth; it’s about taking charge of one’s health and environment,” she added, underscoring the significance of the STOP TB Partnership and the TB Steering Committee as key milestones in Lagos’s broader health agenda.
The initiative is part of a concerted effort to strengthen TB control programs, build new partnerships in both the public and private sectors, and collaborate with other states to scale up TB prevention and treatment efforts. Dr. Sanwo-Olu emphasized that educating the public, dispelling myths, and promoting health-seeking behaviors were essential to reducing the transmission of TB in Lagos. “The newly appointed chairpersons will be responsible for educating the public, promoting health-seeking behaviors, dispelling myths, and mobilizing resources to support community-based TB prevention efforts,” she explained.
According to the 2023 Global Tuberculosis Report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 10.6 million people worldwide contracted TB in 2022, with 5.8 million men, 3.5 million women, and 1.3 million children affected. In Africa, TB continues to be a major public health issue, with 2,480,000 people affected, equating to one person falling ill every 30 seconds. Nigeria, with 479,000 reported cases in 2023, accounts for a significant portion of the global burden, and Lagos, with 18,541 reported TB cases, is one of the hardest-hit areas in the country.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu stressed that TB is both preventable and curable, as long as it is detected early and treated properly. She highlighted several measures that the Lagos State government has already implemented to reduce TB transmission, including efforts to clear gutters and slum areas where the disease can spread more easily. She also called for continued collaboration between stakeholders, including development partners, healthcare professionals, community leaders, religious bodies, and the media, to ensure a collective response to the TB crisis.
The newly inaugurated TB Steering Committee, along with the STOP TB Partnership, is expected to play a central role in coordinating TB control efforts and driving initiatives to tackle the disease at the grassroots level. Dr. Sanwo-Olu’s call for action highlights the urgency of addressing TB in Lagos, urging all stakeholders to come together and ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against the disease. “This is not just a fight for one group or one institution, but a collective responsibility for all of us,” she concluded.
