Health Minister Explains How Tech Equipment Aided Fight Against Tuberculosis, Health Challenges

Health Minister Explains How Tech Equipment Aided Fight Against Tuberculosis, Health Challenges

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate has attributed improved healthcare services to enhanced technology capacity.

He noted that improved success recorded in the fight against diseases including tuberculosis could be partly linked to tech equipment progressively acquired by the government.

Pate made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during the investiture of Her Excellency, Remi Tinubu, the first lady, as a “Global and National Stop TB Champion” at the State House.

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The renewed campaign against tuberculosis follows the adoption of the Political Declaration at the United Nations High-Level Meeting held in New York in September 2023.

The Health Minister stated: “We have expanded TB treatment services and increased the availability of GeneXpert equipment to 512 as of the end of 2023. We are also enhancing our use of digital X-ray with artificial intelligence for TB screening, with the aim to add 350 digital X-ray machines before the end of June 2024, supported by our funding partners.

Furthermore, we have instituted a robust specimen referral network utilizing a hub-and-spoke model, responsible for the transport of over 2.4 million samples in 2023 for TB tests.”

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He emphasised that tuberculosis remains a disease that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in our society, including the socially excluded, the impoverished, and those suffering from malnutrition, HIV, and other comorbidities.

In line with the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Program, #NHSRIP, we are intensifying investments in primary healthcare, a key component in expanding the scope of services, including tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.

We are poised to announce significant investments in Primary Health Care Centers @NphcdaNG under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund #BHCPF program, incorporating tuberculosis services as an integral part of healthcare accessible to Nigerians. Additionally, in line with the President’s directive, we are unlocking the healthcare value chain, aiming to localize the production of pharmaceuticals and diagnostic kits.

“Inspired by the visionary leadership of President Tinubu, we are committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s efforts in ending tuberculosis not only benefit our nation but also contribute positively to the global community.

As a member of the Board of the Global Stop TB Partnership, and in my newly elected role in the Global Fund Board representing West and Central Africa from May 2024, I pledge to bridge the President’s domestic initiatives with the complementary support of our external and bilateral partners,” he concluded.