The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Amobi Godwin-Ogah, has assured that the federal parliament will enact legislation to prohibit stigma and discrimination against tuberculosis (TB) patients in Nigeria.
He stated this during a Tuberculosis Law Retreat organised by the Stop TB Partnership and Lawyers Alert, which brought together members of the National Assembly, officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as national and international experts, and people affected by TB.
Nigeria carries the highest burden of TB in Africa, accounting for 19 per cent of the continent’s cases and ranking sixth among high-burden countries worldwide.
Godwin-Ogah commended the efforts of TB managers in the country, noting that they are achieving significant results despite operating with only 18 per cent of the global fund’s resources.
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He pledged to advocate for increased funding for TB programmes and ensure the passage of laws to protect TB patients from discrimination.
Barrister Rommy Mom, President of Lawyers Alert, a nonprofit human rights organisation, emphasised that legal measures against stigmatisation would be crucial in curbing the spread of TB in Nigeria.
Other stakeholders, including TB expert and human rights lawyer Professor Brian Citro and Deborah Ike, Deputy Director of the Global TB Caucus, also highlighted the urgent need for a robust legal framework to address tuberculosis issues in the country.
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