Over 50,000 Nigerians Test Positive for Tuberculosis Amid Treatment Shortfall, Global Fund Warns

Over 50,000 Nigerians test positive for TB, but many remain untreated due to funding gaps.

Global Fund raises alarm as limited resources threaten progress in controlling disease spread.

More than 50,000 Nigerians have been diagnosed with tuberculosis following expanded screening efforts across the country, but many of those affected are yet to receive treatment due to severe funding gaps, according to the Global Fund.

Mr. Ibrahim Tajudeen, Executive Secretary of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in Nigeria, made the revelation on Monday during the 11th quarterly meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in Abuja.

Tajudeen explained that the recent surge in TB case detection was a result of intensified efforts by the government and development partners to identify undiagnosed cases. However, he expressed concern that limited financial resources are now hindering efforts to initiate treatment for many of those who have tested positive.

“We have successfully screened over 50,000 people who tested positive for TB,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are unable to place a significant number of them on treatment due to inadequate resources. This is a major setback in the fight against the disease.”

He noted that the funding shortfall stems from reprioritized activities under the current Global Fund grant cycle, which has limited the ability to scale up treatment. He warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the progress made in recent years could be reversed.

“The Country Coordinating Mechanism is required to align with the revised funding allocation by July 14. The outcome of that decision may determine whether or not thousands of diagnosed individuals can receive life-saving treatment,” Tajudeen added.

Tuberculosis remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing infectious disease challenges, despite being preventable and curable. Tajudeen said the current situation calls for urgent intervention from stakeholders to avoid a public health crisis.

“Screening without treatment is counterproductive,” he emphasized. “If these individuals do not receive the care they need, it will increase the risk of community transmission and further strain our healthcare system.”

As part of efforts to combat the disease, Tajudeen disclosed that over 25.5 million TB tests have been conducted using advanced diagnostic tools. He added that 370 digital X-ray machines have been procured, many of which have already been deployed to states, while six regional reference laboratories are currently undergoing upgrades to boost diagnostic capacity.

Beyond tuberculosis, he highlighted achievements in other areas of public health. For instance, he revealed that 16.6 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed nationwide to support malaria prevention, while donor commitments have reached $95.5 million for ongoing health interventions.

Despite this support, Tajudeen admitted that the government’s initial budget expectations have not been fully met. As a result, critical activities such as drug procurement, healthcare worker training, and infrastructure upgrades have been scaled down or postponed.

He called on the Ministerial Oversight Committee and international partners to urgently bridge the funding gap to prevent further deterioration.

Health experts warn that the failure to treat diagnosed TB patients could lead to increased transmission, drug-resistant strains, and a rise in mortality rates. Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest TB burden globally, and stakeholders stress that sustained funding and stronger collaboration are essential to closing the treatment gap and achieving national health goals.