U.S. Aid Reduction Threatens Tuberculosis Treatment Sustainability in Nigeria

The reduction in U.S. aid is critically affecting TB treatment in Nigeria, with a $404 million funding need for 2025. A $5 million funding gap has already emerged, and the Global Fund’s support is decreasing. Nigeria’s TB response depends heavily on international donations, while domestic funding remains low. Despite some progress in case detection, drug-resistant TB and undiagnosed cases present ongoing challenges. Increased domestic investment is urgent to ensure the sustainability of TB services.

The recent reduction in U.S. aid is significantly impacting Nigeria’s tuberculosis (TB) treatment capabilities. With an estimated need of $404 million for TB services in 2025, the country faces severe financial challenges in maintaining essential case-finding and treatment operations. A $5 million funding shortfall has already surfaced from January to March this year due to U.S. government actions, raising urgent concerns about the future of TB care.

Moreover, projections indicate that the Global Fund, a crucial partner in TB services, has allocated only $89 million for 2025, with funding slumping to a mere $16 million by 2026. Nigeria had initially aimed to treat 499,000 individuals in 2024; however, the early depletion of 2025 resources has hindered this goal, resulting in the premature usage of essential TB medications and raising alarm over potential shortages.

Mr. Tajudeen Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund, stated that while the U.S. aid reduction will predominantly impact TB case-finding activities in 18 specific states, services in the other regions remain mostly robust, funded mainly by the Global Fund. He assured that there is not an immediate drug crisis affecting the entire country.

Statistics reveal that Nigeria’s TB program heavily relies on international funding, as domestic contributions have remained alarmingly low, fluctuating between 6% to 8% annually from 2018 to 2023. In contrast, international funding ranged from 16% to 32%, leading to a substantial funding gap of approximately 70% in 2023. The Federal Ministry of Health noted that only about half of Nigeria’s health facilities provide TB treatments, with just 48% of local government areas possessing the necessary diagnostic machinery.

TB continues to pose significant health threats worldwide, and Nigeria is particularly affected, ranking first in Africa and sixth globally among high-burden countries. In 2023, Nigeria experienced approximately 499,000 new TB cases, comprising 20% of Africa’s total TB burden and contributing to 18% of TB-related deaths.

Despite these grave challenges, Dr. Godwin Ntadom from the Federal Ministry of Health reported a notable rise in TB notification rates, achieving the highest figures to date with over 400,000 cases identified in 2024. Moreover, childhood TB case detection has surged impressively from 8,293 cases in 2018 to 43,000 in 2024. Yet, he cautioned that many cases remain undiagnosed, exacerbating community transmission. The issue of drug-resistant tuberculosis is also of growing concern.

World Tuberculosis Day, observed annually on March 24, aims to heighten awareness and mobilize efforts toward eradicating TB, with the theme for this year focusing on commitment and investment in TB control measures. Dr. Ntadom reinforced the necessity for enhanced domestic investment in TB services to achieve the WHO’s End TB targets.

The Stop TB Partnership Nigeria has called for an increased domestic funding commitment to counterbalance declining donor support, stressing a crucial need for enhanced local investment in TB eradication. Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, implored policymakers and stakeholders to advocate passionately for the allocation of domestic resources to support TB prevention and treatment initiatives, emphasizing the pressing nature of the situation.

In summary, the cut in U.S. aid presents significant challenges for tuberculosis treatment in Nigeria, threatening the sustainability of crucial health services. With domestic funding being notably low, it is essential for Nigerian authorities and stakeholders to rally support for increased local investment to ensure the future of TB care. Effective advocacy and engagement from all sectors will be vital in overcoming these funding gaps and continuing the fight against tuberculosis.

Original Source: leadership.ng