Global Tuberculosis Caucus Meets In Nigeria, Adopts New Policy Document To End TB By 2030
Adedokun Waliyu 
The Global TB Caucus including 18 countries and partners have met for the 5th Africa TB Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, seeking ways to end the Tuberculosis scourge on the continent by 2030.
The Abuja summit sought commitments from countries to achieve the UN declaration to increase advocacy for funding to close TB gaps and strengthen multi sectoral partnerships.
In a release sent to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the Global TB Caucus said the document was an outcome of the Africa regional dialogue on financing to end TB in Africa co-organised by the Stop TB Partnership, the African Union, Africa Parliamentary TB Caucus, and the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health.
The release said, “The Global TB Caucus with her partners (Stop TB Partnership Geneva, the Global Fund, FIND, Light Consortium, WACI Health, and others) held the 5th Africa TB Summit 2024 in the National Assembly of Nigeria with support of the AIDS, TB and Malaria Control Committee, convening parliamentarians from eighteen (18) African countries, experts, and development partners to discuss actionable strategies for ending tuberculosis (TB).
“The summit served as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, foster unity across African nations, and empower parliamentarians with information to advance TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and funding.
“One of the summit’s significant outcomes was the adoption of the Abuja Statement on Financing to End TB in Africa, an outcome document of the Africa regional dialogue on financing to end TB in Africa co-organized by the Stop TB Partnership, African Union, Africa Parliamentary TB Caucus, and the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health.”
The key speakers included Amobi Godwin Ogah, the Chairman, House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control Committee, National Assembly of Nigeria who noted that “Parliamentarians are the bridge between commitments and action. We must hold ourselves accountable to drive TB eradication efforts.”
Also, the Rt Hon The Lord Herbert of South Downs CBE PC – Chair of Global TB Caucus added that “The leadership of African parliamentarians is critical to ensuring that TB is prioritised within national health policies and budgets. Together, we can turn the tide against this disease.”
Meanwhile, Peter Sands, Executive Director, The Global Fund said: “Africa has made remarkable strides in reducing TB deaths, but sustained investments in innovative diagnostics and treatments are essential to maintain momentum and achieve global targets.”
For Dr Michel Gasana, WHO Africa Regional Office, “The fight against TB requires intensified efforts to adopt, deploy and scale up new innovative diagnostic tools and strengthen multisectoral collaboration while also addressing the social determinants on health. Addressing TB funding gaps is also critical to eliminating this disease.”
Other speakers are; Prof. Toyosi Adekeye of the The Light Consortium; James Malar – Stop TB Partnership, Geneva; Deborah Ikeh – Director of Programmes, Global TB Caucus; Dr. Eluid Wandwalo – The Global Fund; Dr. Sarabjit Singh Chadha – FIND; Stephen Mule – Member of Parliament, Kenya, Chair, Africa TB Caucus; Senator Dr. Pierre Flambeau Ngayap – Member of Senate Bureau, Cameroon, Africa TB Caucus co-chair (Francophone) and Virginie Dolama – Member of Parliament, Congo – Chair, Congo Parliamentary TB Caucus.
The summit brought together experts from 18 African countries; Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
