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Funding cuts jeopardized global fight against tuberculosis – WHO

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The UN World Health Organisation has warned that severe funding cuts – particularly by the United States – are threatening decades of progress in the fight against tuberculosis, still the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

The health agency highlighted that essential prevention, testing, and treatment services were collapsing, leaving millions at risk.

Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific are the hardest-hit regions, where national TB programmes depend heavily on international support.

“Any disruption to TB services – whether financial, political or operational – can have devastating and often fatal consequences for millions worldwide,” Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO Global Programme on TB and Lung Health, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Explainer: Cholera
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had on Feb. 24. also raised the alarm over funding cuts, noting the immediate impact on key health programmes combatting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and cholera.

Over the past two decades, global TB programmes have saved more than 79 million lives, averting approximately 3.65 million deaths last year alone.

A significant portion of this success has been driven by US Government funding, which has provided about $200 to $250 million annually – approximately a quarter of the total international donor funding secured.

The U.S. has been the largest bilateral donor for programmes combating the disease.

However, newly announced cuts for 2025 through executive orders will have devastating impacts on TB response efforts in at least 18 high-burden countries, where 89 per cent of expected US funding was allocated for patient care.

The impact will be particularly devastating in Africa, where treatment disruptions and staff layoffs could exponentially increase TB transmission rates.

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Early reports from TB-affected countries indicate that funding constraints are already dismantling essential health services.

Among the most pressing concerns are health worker layoffs, drug shortages and supply chain breakdowns, data and surveillance systems collapse, and disruptions to TB research and funding.

“Without immediate action, hard-won progress in the fight against TB is at risk. Our collective response must be swift, strategic, and fully resourced to protect the most vulnerable and maintain momentum toward ending TB,” Kasaeva said.

WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting governments and global partners in the fight against TB.

“In these challenging times, WHO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting national governments, civil society and global partners in securing sustained funding and integrated solutions to safeguard the health and well-being of those most vulnerable to TB,” Kaeseva said.

NAN

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Health

May Day: Nigerian health workers ask for increase in pay

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The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Niger State has urged the state government to increase its members’ salaries due to the hazardous nature of their jobs.

The state Chairman of the union, Comrade Usman Abubakar-Dabban, made the request at a reception organised for the workers to mark the International Workers Day in Minna on Thursday.

He said that since health workers were game-changers, there was the need to increase their wages.

According to Abubakar-Dabban, an increase of 150 per cent will justify the critical role health workers play in the healthcare system.

He lauded the governor and the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba for implementing the new minimum wage of N80,000, which was above what was recommended by the Federal Government.

He hailed the deputy governor for initiating the building of the union’s hall when he was the chairman of the union, which would be commissioned soon.

He urged the union members to adhere to the ethics of the profession to ensure they enjoy the welfare they crave for from the state government.

Earlier in his remarks, Aminu Yusuf, Special Adviser to Niger governor on Labour Matters, lauded the workers for the reception.

Yusuf said workers day was a day for labour leaders to take stock of their achievements, consolidate on them and identify new challenges, so that they could open a new chapter on how to address them.(NAN)

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Immunization Week: Vaccines sustainable, save 6 lives per minute – UNICEF

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described vaccines used in immunisation efforts as “sustainable” adding that they have saved six lives every minute over the last five decades.

UNICEF’s Chief, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, said this at a virtual media dialogue with journalists in Owerri, on Saturday, to mark the year 2025 World Immunisation Week.

Speaking on this year’s theme: “Immunisation For All Is Humanly Possible”, Chiluwe described vaccines as “one of humanity’s greatest achievements”.

She called for increased advocacy, communication, social mobilisation and cold chain support to achieve routine immunisation that “would really reach everyone”.

Chiluwe also called for infrastructure strengthening such as the establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health systems in states with the greater need.

“This year’s theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable Immunisation services.

“Vaccines remain and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives, that is, six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.

“UNICEF, therefore, joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunisation services as should, which entails getting to the last mile,” she said.

Chiluwe commended the contributions from state governments that compliment UNICEF’s efforts and urged them not to relent in their partnership.

She further urged them to build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure that every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potentials.

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Director-General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Mr Francis Nwanbani, and UNICEF’s implementing partner, said that it was necessary to ensure that the successes of the past five decades were replicated going forward.

This, he said, would help to achieve the “humanly possible” campaign.

“ We must endeavour to reach more children with essential immunisations while developing new and newer vaccines to cover a broader range of diseases and ages,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lectures at the dialogue focused on sustainable vaccine development and immunisation strategies especially for children. (NAN)

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Malaria vaccine a success in Nigeria, says Official

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The Director of Kwara State Primary Healthcare System, Dr Michael Oguntoye, has hailed the Malaria vaccination pilot programme in two Nigerian states as a significant success.

Oguntoye made the statement on Friday during the celebration of World Malaria Day in Ilorin.

He explained that Nigeria had officially rolled out the R21 malaria vaccine, incorporating it into the country’s routine immunisation programme.

He expressed optimism that the health intervention would soon extend to other states, including Kwara.

“Malaria is now one of the diseases that is vaccine-preventable.

“We all know that malaria is one of the leading public health challenges in this region,” Oguntoye noted.

He further emphasised that the vaccine would help protect children from the disease.

The pilot programmes in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, he added, had shown significant success in saving children’s lives.(NAN)

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