Foundation seeks political commitment, funding increase to end tuberculosis

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has joined partners worldwide in calling for stronger political commitments, increased funding, and expanded access to tuberculosis (TB) services as the world observes World Tuberculosis Day.

In a statement commemorating the 2025 World Tuberculosis Day, AHF Advocacy & Marketing Manager Steve Aborisade highlighted that TB claimed 1.25 million lives in 2023, according to the World Health Organization.

While global TB incidence has declined, progress remains too slow to meet international targets. “An estimated 11 million people fell ill with TB in 2023, with more than 80% of cases and deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.”

“At least $22 billion is needed annually for TB prevention and treatment, yet global funding falls significantly short of this goal. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis remains a public health crisis, with only about two in five people with drug-resistant TB receiving treatment in 2023.”

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AHF Nigeria’s World TB Day event will be held on Monday, March 24, across its seven state programs—Abuja, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, and Nasarawa—to raise awareness about TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease, the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, and a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance-related fatalities.

AHF’s TB initiatives urge governments to prioritize TB prevention and treatment, strengthen healthcare systems, and close the funding gap that continues to hinder progress. In Nigeria, AHF is collaborating with TB Focal Persons in Abuja-FCT, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Kogi, and Nasarawa states through live radio programming to educate and raise awareness about TB among the general population.

This initiative follows a radio jingle on TB and HIV that aired in recent months across AHF Nigeria’s states of operation. “AHF Nigeria supports active TB case detection in communities across our seven states of operation through the mobilization and training of community volunteers, known as the ‘Community Advocacy Club.’ These volunteers screen individuals for TB symptoms and direct those exhibiting symptoms to DOT centers for diagnosis and treatment.”

AHF also prioritizes HIV/TB co-infection care in its clinics and has long integrated TB prevention, screening, and treatment into its global healthcare programs. “AHF advocates for policy changes to make TB drugs and diagnostics more accessible and affordable while engaging communities and governments to commit to stronger TB control efforts,” said Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director (CPD).