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By Doris Obinna
Lagos State on Tuesday amplified its campaign against tuberculosis (TB) with a high-profile awareness walk and symposium to mark the 2026 World TB Day, signalling renewed commitment to ending the disease. Organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady TB Steering Committee, World TB Day—commemorated every March 24—drew healthcare workers, community advocates, students, policymakers, and development partners.
The day began with a vibrant awareness walk through the Lagos State Government Secretariat community in Alausa, Ikeja. Participants carried placards promoting TB prevention, early detection, and treatment adherence, engaging residents and urging prompt medical attention. The walk culminated in a symposium at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, where stakeholders discussed progress, challenges, and strategies for eliminating TB in Lagos.
Delivering the keynote address, Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, highlighted the need for innovative and community-driven approaches in the fight against TB. She stressed that grassroots health workers and community-based officers should act as “foot soldiers” in raising awareness, even in the face of challenges, and underscored the critical role of educating young people to counter misinformation.
The First Lady warned that incomplete TB treatment could result in drug-resistant strains requiring up to 18 months of intensive care. She called for sustainable financing through trust funds and integration into health insurance schemes, while also advocating the use of digital tools, simplified messaging such as “Check Am,” and integrated approaches combining TB, HIV/AIDS, and malaria interventions.
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The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described TB as a major public health concern in Lagos, citing the state’s dense population and the airborne transmission of the disease. He disclosed that Lagos records about 24,000 TB cases annually, with only 16,000 detected, leaving many undiagnosed and contributing to ongoing transmission. Abayomi urged adherence to treatment under Directly Observed Therapy and called for an end to stigma, which discourages patients from seeking care.
In her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, lauded progress made in surveillance, diagnostics, and treatment access, while highlighting the need to tackle social determinants such as poverty and overcrowding. The Permanent Secretary of the Health Service Commission and TB Steering Committee Chair, Dr Abimbola Mabogunje, emphasised community support and early detection as key to achieving a TB-free Lagos.
The National Professional Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Vivian Ibiezoko, commended the state’s leadership in expanding TB services and rapid testing but stressed the need for stronger financing, surveillance, and social protection systems to sustain progress. Representatives from the Stop TB Partnership, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, and Damien Foundation Germany reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Lagos through collaborative efforts.
In her closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Dayo Lajide, praised the First Lady for her leadership and acknowledged the dedication of healthcare workers, stakeholders, and TB patients. The event concluded with a renewed pledge for collective responsibility under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by countries, Powered by people,” as Lagos State reaffirmed its determination to eliminate tuberculosis.
