The Stop TB Partnership in Nigeria is urging increased collaboration among stakeholders to effectively address the issue of Tuberculosis (TB).
They emphasize that TB is a curable disease, with readily available and accessible drugs for patients.
Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, the Acting Board Chairman of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, expressed concern about the presence of unidentified TB cases within communities, contributing to the spread of the disease among individuals with low immunity. She called on families, friends, and private healthcare practitioners to encourage individuals with suspected cases to seek treatment.
Dr. Ogbuji-Ladipo made these remarks during the National Consultations on Public-Private Partnership and Post-United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis in Abuja. She highlighted the importance of early detection in helping patients recover from the disease and emphasized the need for partnerships with private healthcare providers to break the chain of transmission.
The organization aims to leverage the significant patronage of private health facilities to intensify advocacy, case finding, and contact tracing efforts. They are actively promoting the Public-Private Partnership initiative to foster collaboration with the private sector.
Mayowa Joel, the Executive Secretary of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, explained that the stakeholders’ consultation aimed to establish a team dedicated to advocating for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and facilitate discussions on strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve access to TB services. The consultation sought to raise awareness among policymakers, healthcare providers, and private sector entities about the importance of PPP in TB control.
Joel emphasized the need to enhance the capacity of team members in PPP advocacy, policy analysis, and communication skills. This would enable them to advocate for favorable policies, regulations, and incentives that encourage private sector engagement in TB control.
