As part of efforts to improve Paediatric TB and HIV case finding in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of health (FMoH) through the NTBLCP and National HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NASCP) convened a stakeholders dialogue on improving Pediatric TB and HIV response. This was implemented with support from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM).

The dialogue, which happened in Abuja on the 12th of January 2023, gathered participants from Federal and State Governments, the GFATM, WHO, USAID, United States Centre for Disease Control (US CDC), United States Department of Defence (US DOD), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Academia and other key partners. Speaking at the event, the Director and National Coordinator of the NTBLCP, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, stressed the need for all stakeholders to step up the fight against pediatric TB and HIV in Nigeria. He equally stressed that for Nigeria to achieve Universal Health Coverage, the children should not be left behind hence all stakeholders need to “walk the talk.” The dialogue culminated in the development of an action plan for accelerating pediatric TB and HIV response in Nigeria, that is intended to fast-track the country’s drive toward the elimination of both diseases in children.

The NTBLCP in collaboration with The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) organized a 2023 World Leprosy Day Symposium, themed “The Multidimensional Impact of Leprosy on its Sufferers: The Need to Act Now” on the 15th of February 2023 in Abuja.
The symposium, which was a convergence of leprosy control experts and stakeholders, including members of the press, featured media awareness, and discussions around the successes, challenges, experiences, and ways forward toward the elimination of leprosy in Nigeria. At the symposium, Dr. Tahir Dahiru, Executive Director of the Leprosy & TB Relief (LTR) Initiative Nigeria, made a presentation on the administration of Single Dose Rifampin to Leprosy contacts as a game changer in stopping the transmission of leprosy in Nigeria while Dr. Saminu, Medical Advisor at TLMN made a presentation on the achievements and challenges of leprosy elimination.
Congratulations to Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, Dr. Tahir Dahiru, Mr. Peters Adebayo (LFP-NTBLCP), Mr Shehu Auta Gele (SPM Kebbi State) and Chief Chika Okpala, A.K.A Chief Zebrudaya, who received awards in recognition of their contributions in the quest to attain zero leprosy in Nigeria.

The NTBLCP and partners commemorated the 2023 World TB Day (WTBD) from the 17th – 25th March. The global theme for this year, “Yes, We can end TB!” aims to inspire hope and encourage high-level leadership, increase investments, uptake of new WHO recommendations, and multisectoral collaboration to combat the TB epidemic. In Nigeria, this theme was complemented by the slogan, “Get Involved”. The slogan was meant to inspire individuals, organizations, and the general public to take responsibility in spreading the message on the prevention, free diagnosis and treatment of TB in Nigeria including an end to stigma and discrimination.


Some outstanding outputs from the commemoration include; carrying all the 774 TB LGA supervisors along through the State Program Managers in conducting outreaches for TB in all the LGAs in Nigeria; the road walk in Abuja where 2 of the 3 samples collected were positive for TB; the over one million subscribers who received TB SMS during the week; the training of teachers and sensitization of pupils in 5 schools in the FCT; including mass and social media coverage.
At the state level, the week was commemorated in diverse ways including media appearances, sensitization and screening in schools (66 in Oyo State), integrated outreaches (TB screening, HIV tests, COVID-19 testing, and vaccination, distribution of condoms, etc.) at religious settings and motor parks. More pictures and a draft report of the events can be accessed