More than 50,000 Nigerians have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) following intensified nationwide screening initiatives, according to a disclosure by the Global Fund, a leading international organization supporting public health responses in low- and middle-income countries.

However, despite this massive diagnostic breakthrough, thousands of infected individuals have yet to commence treatment, raising fears that the country’s TB control strategy could falter unless urgent funding interventions are made.

Widespread Diagnosis, Limited Treatment

Mr. Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Secretary of Nigeria’s Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for the Global Fund, raised the alarm on Monday during the 11th quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja.

He said the identification of over 50,000 TB-positive individuals marks a critical step in the nation’s fight against the disease, but warned that a severe funding shortfall has hampered efforts to place many of them on immediate treatment.

“We have successfully screened more than 50,000 people who are TB-positive, but we are unable to begin treatment for many due to limited resources,” Tajudeen revealed.

This delay, according to health experts, poses a grave risk to public health, as untreated TB patients can easily transmit the disease to others, undermining national disease containment goals.

Global Fund Grant Revisions Hindering Progress

Tajudeen explained that revisions in the current Global Fund grant cycle have disrupted planned TB treatment programs. The reprioritization of activities under the new funding framework has created a backlog, with critical life-saving interventions now hanging in the balance.

“The Country Coordinating Mechanism is expected to confirm its alignment with the revised funding allocation by July 14. That decision may determine whether those affected can access treatment in time,” he said.

As of now, the clock is ticking, and failure to finalize the financial alignment could mean continued suffering and increased disease transmission for thousands of already diagnosed Nigerians.

A Curable Disease Threatening Millions

Tuberculosis, although preventable and curable, remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent and deadly infectious diseases, particularly in impoverished and densely populated communities. Nigeria ranks among the top 10 high-burden countries globally, with hundreds of thousands estimated to be infected each year—many of whom go undetected due to systemic gaps.

The recent screening campaign, carried out through collaborations between the government, Global Fund, and other donor partners, was aimed at boosting early detection, which remains one of the most effective ways to reduce TB spread and fatalities.

Yet, Tajudeen lamented that early detection means little without treatment.

“Screening alone is not enough. Without treatment, we risk fueling the very epidemic we seek to control,” he warned.

Investments in Diagnostics and Equipment

Despite the looming treatment crisis, Nigeria has made strides in diagnostic infrastructure and surveillance. Tajudeen highlighted several key milestones, including:

• Over 25.5 million TB tests conducted using modern diagnostic platforms across the country.

• 370 digital X-ray machines procured, with many already distributed to state-level TB control programs.

• Six regional reference laboratories currently undergoing major upgrades to improve their capacity to diagnose TB and other infectious diseases.

• Ongoing procurement and delivery of diagnostic consumables and screening tools.

These efforts have helped bolster the capacity of Nigeria’s public health system to detect TB earlier and more accurately, yet the full benefit cannot be realized without complementary investment in treatment rollouts.

Funding Shortfalls and Delayed Activities

Tajudeen admitted that although the government has received a $95.5 million commitment from international donors, much of the planned programming remains in jeopardy due to unanticipated budget shortfalls.

“The shortfall from earlier budget projections has led to the shelving of several planned activities, including drug procurement, training, and capital investments,” he noted.

Key initiatives that have been delayed include:

• Procurement of TB medications and combination therapy regimens.

• Healthcare worker training on TB treatment protocols and community outreach.

• Facility upgrades needed to support inpatient and outpatient care for advanced TB cases.

Malaria and Broader Public Health Interventions

In addition to the TB response, Tajudeen also noted progress in malaria prevention, disclosing that over 16.6 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed nationwide to combat the mosquito-borne illness, which also contributes significantly to Nigeria’s disease burden.

He also praised current efforts under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which is gradually improving access to essential health services at the community level.

However, he stressed that systemic progress on diseases like TB requires more than diagnostics—it needs sustained financial commitment, inter-agency collaboration, and continuous political will.

Calls for Urgent Action

The Global Fund official urged members of the Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC), donor agencies, and key stakeholders to act urgently to address the treatment gap.

“It is not enough to identify the sick; we must provide treatment swiftly and comprehensively. Otherwise, we are merely adding to the statistics while leaving the real problem unsolved,” he stated.

Experts have also joined the call, warning that untreated TB patients pose a risk to their families, communities, and even healthcare workers. The disease can be particularly devastating among children, immunocompromised individuals, and people living in overcrowded urban slums.

Additionally, untreated TB cases increase the risk of developing drug-resistant strains, which are more expensive and complicated to treat.

Nigeria’s TB Burden: A Persistent Crisis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has consistently ranked as one of the worst-hit countries globally, with an estimated 440,000 new TB cases reported annually. Yet, less than 70% of those infected are diagnosed, and even fewer are successfully treated.

The reasons are manifold: stigma, poor health infrastructure, lack of awareness, weak follow-up systems, and, as now evidenced, critical funding gaps that delay or prevent treatment access even when diagnosis has occurred.

A Call for Renewed Commitment

Stakeholders believe the only way Nigeria can overcome the TB crisis is through multi-sectoral action, involving the Ministry of Health, private sector partners, international donors, state governments, and civil society organizations.

The success of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, which saw mass testing, decentralized health services, and community-level outreach, is being cited as a model that could be adapted to combat TB effectively.

Tajudeen’s appeal reflects this thinking: “We’ve seen what is possible when there’s collective urgency. Tuberculosis should be no different.”

Conclusion

While the detection of over 50,000 TB-positive individuals signals remarkable progress in Nigeria’s disease surveillance efforts, the inability to begin treatment for many of them underscores a dangerous disconnect between diagnosis and care.

As the July 14 deadline for Global Fund grant alignment draws near, the country stands at a crossroads. Without urgent funding and coordinated action, the window of opportunity to contain TB and save thousands of lives could rapidly close.

For Nigeria, the message is clear: Diagnosing TB is not enough — treatment must follow, and it must follow now.