Lagos is struggling to contain a silent health crisis, as a significant gap in tuberculosis (TB) detection has left thousands of cases undiagnosed, according to health authorities.
At the investiture ceremony of Lagos’ TB Champions and Ambassadors on Tuesday, Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, revealed alarming TB statistics.
“According to the statistics that we get from the Federal Government, there should be 32,000 Lagosians with tuberculosis that we need to diagnose. We’ve only been able to diagnose about 15,000 this year if we add up all our numbers,” Professor Abayomi stated.
The revelation paints a concerning picture of public health in Lagos, with approximately 17,000 undetected cases potentially spreading within communities.
“Ladies, that means that there are 17,000 people in Lagos right now, walking around and living with tuberculosis that have not been diagnosed,” the commissioner emphasized.
The ceremony, which saw the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, leading the initiative, marks a crucial step in the state’s fight against TB.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the program’s launch, albeit delayed.
“I was first interested in 2019, we’re in 2024. We’ve been doing so many programmes, but I’ve not been able to do the best job for the local government chairpersons’ wives and the female chairpersons. So honestly, I’m so delighted. And all glory and all honour belong to God for making it possible,” she remarked.
The situation in Lagos reflects a broader national crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in March that Nigeria bears the highest TB burden in Africa, with devastating consequences – approximately 268 people lose their lives daily to the disease.
Cecilia Magbogunje, Deputy Director and Programme Manager of the Lagos State Steering Committee for Tuberculosis, highlighted the critical role of community engagement in addressing this health challenge.
She emphasized that leadership from local government chairpersons’ wives will be instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing resources.
The WHO’s provisional data reveals that Nigeria reported over 361,000 TB cases in 2023, showing a 26% increase from the previous year. Children accounted for 9% of these cases, highlighting a particular vulnerability in the younger population.
The organization noted specific challenges in pediatric TB detection:
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“The gap in case detection is mostly among children, due to some health workers at facility and community level not sufficiently skilled to detect childhood TB, as well as a lack of awareness among families and communities.”
To address this crisis, female local government chairpersons and wives of chairmen were appointed as champions and ambassadors in the fight against TB. Professor Abayomi charged these newly inducted ambassadors with a clear mission:
“And those are the 15,000 that the First Lady is mandating you to find and bring into the treatment facilities, which as you have heard is totally free.”
