The Stop TB Partnership in Nigeria has called for more stakeholder collaboration in the fight against Tuberculosis, maintaining that Tuberculosis is curable and drugs to tackle the infection available and easily accessible to patients.
The Acting Board Chairman, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, who made the call, said the organisation is concerned that there are many unidentified cases within communities aiding the spread of the disease to low immunity individuals.
She urged families, friends and private health practitioners to encourage anyone with a suspected case to present themselves for treatment.
Dr. Ogbuji-Ladipo gave the advice at the National Consultations on Public–Private Partnership and Post-United Nation High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis in Abuja, emphasising that early detection would go a long way in helping patients escape the disease and heal from its trauma.
She said the number of undetected cases is the reason the organisation is seeking partnerships with private healthcare providers to ensure an urgent cut in the chain of transmission.
”The organization is currently taking advantage of the huge patronage of private health facilities to intensify its advocacy, case finding and contact tracing.
”We are amplifying the campaign for private sector partnership through the Public Private Partnership initiative”.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Mayowa Joel, said the stakeholders’ consultation was to set up the PPP advocacy team and facilitate discussion on fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to enhance access to TB services.
He said the consultation will also raise awareness among key stakeholders, including policymakers, healthcare providers, and private sector entities, about the importance of PPP in TB control.
He stressed the need to build the capacity of team members in PPM advocacy, policy analysis and communication skills to enable them to advocate for favourable policies, regulations, and incentives to encourage private sector engagement in TB control.
