FCT RECORDS 16,000 TB CASES ANNUALLY, ACHIEVES 94% TREATMENT SUCCESS RATE
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Agency Report
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) records approximately 16,000 cases of Tuberculosis annually, with a treatment success rate of 94 per cent, health authorities have disclosed.
The Director of Public Health at the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dan Gasama, revealed this during a community outreach held in Abuja to mark the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day.
The outreach, organised in collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, focused on raising awareness and expanding access to screening and treatment in high-burden communities.
Gasama noted that TB-related deaths have declined by about 64 per cent over the years, although the disease remains a major public health concern both globally and in Nigeria.
He cited global statistics indicating that about 10.7 million people fell ill with TB, resulting in approximately 1.23 million deaths, including 150,000 among people living with HIV.
With a prevalence rate of 219 cases per 100,000 population, Nigeria remains among countries with a high TB burden, while the FCT contributes significantly with its annual caseload. He added that over 467,000 TB cases were recorded nationwide in 2025 — the highest ever — attributing the rise to improved detection through enhanced surveillance and community outreach.
The 2026 commemoration emphasised grassroots engagement, with awareness campaigns, free screening, and treatment services taken directly to communities. In the Mabushi area, hundreds of residents benefited from free screening for TB, malaria, and other illnesses, with medications distributed and critical cases referred to hospitals.
In a goodwill message, Jenny Momoh, representing the World Health Organization FCT State Coordinator, Jibrin Alkasim, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ending TB. She highlighted advancements in diagnostics and patient-centred care, while stressing the need for sustained investment and collaboration.
Also speaking, Teresa Jatau underscored the critical role of communities in combating the disease, urging residents to embrace early testing and adhere strictly to treatment, noting that TB is curable when detected early.
The 2026 World Tuberculosis Day is themed, “Yes, we can. We can end TB.”
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