Experts have enjoined the federal government to increase efforts and funding towards ending tuberculosis in the country.
They made the call during Prof. Lovett Lawson’s annual memorial lecture at Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and others.
Prof. Lovett Lawson, a professor of community medicine until his death in July 2020, contributed immensely to efforts to end TB and improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He was a patron, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria; chairman, Zankli Medical Centre; and former Dean, Faculty of Community Medicine, Bingham University, Karu.
Dr. Mustapha Gidado, Executive Director, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, Netherlands, said weak leadership, particularly in skills and practice, accounted for the slow progress in tuberculosis elimination in Nigeria.
He said, ‘‘there’s capacity and resources at the national level to fight diseases, even TB, but it declines as you descend to the state and local levels, which is where the burden of disease is higher.
“It is counterproductive to find that at the local level there is no power or resources to execute interventions.
“Financial resources on their own cannot end TB but must be complemented by action, using human resources.”
He said late Prof Lawson contributed so much to ending TB in Nigeria, and there is need to sustain the legacies he left behind.
Dr Olufunke Lawson, a paediatrician and wife of the late Lawson said partnership and allocation of funds for capacity building are key to tackling TB and other infectious diseases in the country.
Dr Bethrand Odume who spoke on behalf of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, said Prof Lawson’s advocacy for improved intervention contributed to bridging the gaps in TB resource mobilisation among partners.
Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, said Prof Lawson’s efforts led to the establishment of TB dot centres in the state.
He said plans were underway to establish more research centres in higher institutions in the state.
The vice chancellor of Bingham University, Professor William Qurix, said Professor Lawson’s contribution to research galvanised support from donors to support research works in the university.
