First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Combat Tuberculosis at UNGA Event

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reiterated her unwavering commitment to the fight against Tuberculosis (TB).

 Speaking at a side event organized by the Stop TB Partnership during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), she emphasized the need for concerted efforts to eliminate TB and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by 2030.

First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu addressing participants at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event by Stop TB Partnership in New York on Tuesday 24th September, 2024

Delivering a message of hope, Senator Tinubu expressed her confidence in the available tools, knowledge, and expertise to achieve this goal. "We have the tools, the knowledge, and the expertise to end TB and AMR by 2030. Addressing these together is not just the smart way—it is the best and only way," she stated.

Senator Tinubu lamented the alarming TB statistics in Nigeria, one of the countries with the highest burden of the disease. She noted that TB claims approximately 125,000 lives annually in the country, with vulnerable populations, especially the poor, being disproportionately affected. "TB does not discriminate; it affects men, women, and children, cutting across all social and economic backgrounds, with the poor being the most vulnerable," she said.

As both a Global and National Stop TB Champion, the First Lady underscored the importance of joint efforts in tackling TB and AMR. She acknowledged that drug-resistant TB remains a significant challenge, posing a serious threat to global health security due to its airborne nature of spread. 

"Despite progress in combating TB, drug-resistant TB has been a persistent concern. It is crucial that we develop innovative strategies to fight both TB and AMR in an integrated manner," she urged, calling for a focus on prevention, education, and responsible antibiotic use. She also highlighted the need for continued research to develop new tools, treatments, and vaccines to outpace the evolving threat of AMR.

In her remarks, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, encouraged nations to leverage each other's strengths in the global fight against TB. "We are struggling, but we are making significant progress with impactful results," she said.

The event, themed "Breaking the Resistance: Fighting AMR and TB Together for a Healthy Future," was attended by key stakeholders, including the Wives of the Governors of Kwara and Imo States, Amb. Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq and Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, and ministers from other countries.