Paucity of funds inhibiting control of Tuberculosis in Anambra – Agency
The manager of Anambra State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Burili Ulcer Control, Dr Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, has said paucity of funds is slowing down the response to tackling the increasing incidents and prevalence of Tuberculosis in Anambra State.
Chukwulobelu disclosed this at a one-day ‘Consultative Breakfast Meeting on Tuberculosis’ with the private sector and other stakeholders, in Awka, on Saturday.
The programme, organised by the Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre, was done as part of its Fund TB Project in Anambra State, implemented by five non-governmental organisations across the South-East and South-South states.
It is funded by USAID through the Palladium Group, under its Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement.
During the programme, Chukwulobelu noted with dismay that tuberculosis, despite being a significant public health challenge, the response to the disease has been majorly donor-driven.
He said, “323 persons in every 100,000 have TB while we record 219 per 100,000 new TB cases TB annually. However, the summary of our problem is funding. If there is funding, sustainability will be assured even in the face of donor fatigue.
“Please, I am categorically saying that despite several memos we wrote last year, none was approved, and no money was released to us from the budgeted amount.
“Anambra state has about 800 DOT sites, 14 Gene Xpert machines, 13 Gene Xpert sites and 1 Truenat machine, among others which have greatly increased access to treatment.”
He further explained that despite the deadly nature of the disease, a patient who has been undergoing treatment for a week is incapable of infecting anyone around him.
“It is important that people understand this so we can reduce the stigmatisation that comes with the disease. Also, note that treatment and diagnosis for tuberculosis are free in Anambra state.
“We have centres that offer such services across all local government areas,” Chukwulobelu concluded while he pleaded with private sector players to come in to fill the wide funding gap.
A civil society activist, Chima Asomba, in her remarks, reemphasised the importance of the private sector involvement in eradicating tuberculosis in the area, adding, “With the transparency and accountability I have seen in TB control programme in Anambra State, I assure you that you can invest in DOT facilities, diagnostic tools, as well as education and sensitisation, which is at the root of the TB response.
“In some local governments like Awka North, Orumba North and others, we don’t have diagnostic tools for TB. Collaboration can help to bridge the gap. It will go a long way in boosting domestic efforts towards eradicating TB in the state.”
The Executive Director, GPSDC, Eucharia Anekwe, spoke further in the same direction, saying, “You can design the souvenirs for your company or business centre with a message such as ‘Stop TB’. We have some TB patients who are malnourished. You can support them with nutritious feeding. Some of them need transport to go for treatment. You can meet that need. You can equally support outreaches against tuberculosis”.
In a presentation on Transformative Budgeting and Financing for Improved Tuberculosis Services in Nigeria, the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, at Fund TB Cluster, Faith Paulinus, called on the Anambra State Government to show greater commitment to the fight against TB through increased domestic budgeting and releases,
She said, “We also called on the private sector to incorporate TB into their companies’ corporate social responsibility, CSR, as an excellent way of supporting TB efforts in the state.
“You can acquire GeneXpert machines. You can provide funds to subsidize TB diagnosis. You can also help to create TB awareness in the workplace”.
The State TB Network Coordinator, Ify Unachukwu, had earlier stressed the need for separate funding for different programmes in the health sector.
She said, “This is important so that we will know how much government budgets for a particular program each year instead of lumping everything up.”
