Akwa Ibom State government and private sector operators have been urged to invest in Tuberculosis services aimed at enhancing the treatment and preventing further spread of the infectious disease in the state. Civil Society Organization made the appeal at the second stakeholders roundtable discussion on, “Unlocking Funds for TB interventions in Akwa Ibom State” organized for stakeholders drawn from the Ministry of Health, the Budget Office, State House of assembly, Media, CSOs among others.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In his presentation, the Programme Officer of Policy Alert, Mr Edidiong Dickson, noted that the organization has engaged with some relevant stakeholders in the state public service especially Ministry of Health and Budget Office and have been able to extract commitment from them.
Dickson stressed that the investment in TB services by public and private sectors would help to achieve sustainable service delivery for the infectious disease.
His words, “Whether it is inclusion of TB in State Insurance Health Scheme, whether it is ensuring that TB appears in the budget, everyone has a critical role to play. For the past three years TB was not on Akwa Ibom state budget .It is sad to also note that still in the 2024 the state does not have TB as a line item on the budget.
“That is why we are advocating for the creation of TB budget line in Akwa Ibom State But we are hoping that by the time His Excellency the governor presents the 2025 budget speech, and by the time the House of assembly would be working on it, we would have TB in Akwa Ibom State Budget as a line item.
“In Cross River State, they have budgeted 10 Million Naira for TB under the ministry of health and we are hoping that 50per cent of that money would be released before last quarter of 2024.
“Also, Delta state budgeted N10million for the creation for the creation of Road to TB facility in the state. And if that Road is constructed it will help people to access care from that General Hospital that caters for TB patients. So these are the things we are hoping to achieve”
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager, TB Unit, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, Dr Bassey Akpan who was represented at the stakeholders meeting by Mrs Theresa Asian, focal person for TB Advocacy, Communication, Sensitization and Monitoring disclosed that in 2023, the number of TB positives was 10, 720 while those who tested positive between January and June 2024 were 6,228.
On his part the Chairman Akwa Ibom State House Committee on Health, Hon Moses Essien commended Policy Alert, and the international donor agencies for the laudable Project aimed at curtailing the spread of Tuberculosis in the state.
Moses who is representing Ibiono Ibom State constituency assured that State legislature was willing and committed to partner the Policy Alert on the project , expressing concern that the spread of the disease was even worse and more devastating than HIV and AIDs.
“I give you the assurance that Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly led by the able Speaker Elder Udeme Otong will do everything humanly possible to ensure that budgetary provisions are made to curtail the spread of Tuberculosis.
“As we are making preparations for the 2025 budget should the relevant Ministry, Department and Agency(MDA) bring up this as budgetary provisions I assure as Chairman of House on Health to protect that particular provision, ensure that it is captured in the budget and funds allocated to fight TB scourge in the state ” Essien assured.
In his goodwill message, the representative of Guild of Community Development Advocates (AKGCODA) aka Akwa Ibom State Civil Society Forum, Mr Peace Edem said, “As we gather today, we are reminded of the immense burden of Tuberculosis (TB) on our communities, and the urgent need for collective action to combat this scourge.
“We recognize the pivotal role that each of you play in this fight, and we are grateful for your commitment to this noble cause. Our forum remains steadfast in its resolve to champion the rights and needs of vulnerable populations, and to hold duty bearers accountable for their obligations”
While welcoming the stakeholders earlier at the executive director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton Akpan disclosed that Five Civil Society Organizations (CSO) under the name “FUND TB Cluster” currently being implemented in namely Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Imo states and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Akpan who was represented by Mr Faith Paulinus, Programme Lead -Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, explained that their decision to embark on the project followed poor domestic funding for TB prevention in the country which has become a source of concern in recent times especially as the international funders may withdraw their assistance anytime due to the increasing financial burden.
He noted that the project titled, “Transformative Budgeting and Financing for Improved TB services in Nigeria”, stressing, “International donor agencies are doing a lot in this regard. So this stakeholders engagement is to also extract commitment from both state and non state actors .Poor domestic funding for TB prevention in the State and the country has become a source of concern”
