Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has said that in 2024, the state recorded 14,930 cases of Tuberculosis, including 738 individuals that had a coinfection of tuberculosis and HIV.
Dr Ajetunmobi, who spoke at the official flag-off of the 2025 World TB Day commemoration and launch of a community outreach testing campaign for TB across Oyo State at the Ibadan North Local Government Council, said the recorded TB cases underscore the persistent burden of the disease in the state.
She stated that in 2024, 641,414 individuals were clinically screened for TB in Oyo State. Out of this number, 200,935 were tested, leading to the diagnosis and treatment of 14,930 cases, including 73 individuals having both HIV and TB.
Ajetunmbi, who declared that Nigeria ranks 6th among the 30 high TB burden countries in the world and first in Africa, with Oyo State positioned 13th among the high TB burden states in the country, said these statistics highlight the need for sustained interventions to detect, treat and prevent the spread of TB in Nigeria.
She, however, declared that there is a need for a collective determination and an urgent need for intensified action at all levels – government, community and individual levels – to curb the spread of TB in our communities.
Dr Ajetunmbi also announced the purchase of mobile x-ray machines to ensure people can get tested for TB at their doorsteps for free to increase access to detection and care for TB in Oyo State.
According to her, ”We have about six of such machines, and we are expecting more. They have been distributed across the 33 LGAs in Oyo State. The LGAs are matched together so that they can have access to it.
“These x-ray machines are portable, so they can be carried to any LGA where it is needed. You don’t have to get to the hospital to pay to have a chest X-ray; it can be brought to people’s doorsteps, and it is free. It is basically for the community; this is going to boost the TB detection rate at the community level.”
Chairman of the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, said it is possible to eradicate TB when there is commitment, investment and delivery of TB services and urged that this be made the focus as Oyo State joins others globally to raise awareness on TB.
In a remark, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Dr Philips Zonto, said the World TB Day theme reflects the urgency and commitment and hope that is needed to accelerate progress towards eliminating TB.
He added that the dedication of healthcare workers, policymakers and communities is key to ensuring early diagnosis, effective treatment and continued care for those affected by the disease.
“We must turn those commitments into concrete action to ensure that every person at risk has access to timely and effective TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment. So, we urged everybody, including the state government, the civil society, the private sector and individuals, to continue collaborating and investing in TB prevention, diagnosis and care,” Dr Zonto said.
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