Plateau records 11,000 tuberculosis cases this year
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy Control Programme in Plateau State, Mr. Yohanna Bot, has said that no fewer than 11,000 cases of tuberculosis infection have been recorded this year, with a whopping number of 2.047 cases isolated between July and September 2026.
Bot, who disclosed this in Jos at first bi-annual media-focused advocacy meeting on the Global Fund ATM (Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria) Integrated Community-led Monitoring (ICLM) Project, said that disease has achieved an alarming proportion with a prevalence rate of 219 per 100,000 of the state population.
He said that those identified have been isolated and being treated at various health centres in the state
The ATM ICLM project is sponsored the Global Fund in conjunction with Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and implemented by the Civil Society for Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria through its member community-based organization (CBOs) in three local government areas – Jos South, Jos North and Mangu.
According to the monitoring and evaluation officer, he spread is driven by the airborne nature of the bacteria, exacerbated by malnutrition, advanced age, weakened immune systems (specifically in children under five and people living with HIV), and overcrowding.
He said, “TB remains a significant public health crisis in Plateau State. We all know that tuberculosis is airborne disease and from the prevalence in the state we have a lot of people that have TB because of the course of even the lifestyle we live because of the places we visit, the prevalence has shown that based on the equivalence of 219 per 100,000 population, we have over 11,000 people that have TB in the state. We just completed our quarterly survey and from the analysis we discovered that between the months of July and September, 2,047 patients were isolated and placed on treatment.”
Bot said that other risk factors are associate with stigma and misconceptions: as many residents still hold false beliefs, such as attributing TB to spiritual or ritual causes, which hinders early diagnosis and treatment.
He added that insecurity and displacement was also making it difficult to detect cases, especially in hotspots areas like Mangu, Jos South, and Barkin Ladi, where insecurity had led to the creation of camps for internally Displaced Persons (IDP) where overcrowding facilitates rapid transmission.
On intervention strategies,Bot said that the programme is prioritizing community outreach, specifically targeting IDP camps and correctional centers for active screening, adding, . “Once diagnosed, patients are placed on treatment, which renders them non-infectious within two weeks.
He said that the program faced a critical shortage of anti-TB drugs because it relies heavily on international support (Global Fund), supply chain, adding that disruptions have created gaps in treatment and availability.
He called for urgent awareness to combat the myths and stigma surrounding TB and sensitizing the community to ensure that people seek medical help rather than relying on misconceptions.
The Plateau State Programme Officer, Global Funds AIDS, TB and Malaria Integrated Community-Led Monitoring Project, Mr. Peter Ezekiel, who presented a grim picture of tuberculosis infection in Nigeria, said that the country Nigeria is ranked 1st in Africa and 6th globally among countries with high Tuberculosis (TB) and TB/HIV co-infection, including the world’s highest number of people affected by malaria and the world’s second-largest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) burden.
He said that there is a high occurrence of co-infection of malaria and TB in HIV patients; co-infection can make a disease more severe and potentially more infectious.
On the grant, Ezekiel said that the ATM Networks are using the Community-Led Monitoring approach to engage community stakeholders to become involved and own and support health interventions, particularly HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (TB), by identifying gaps hindering effective service delivery and uptake such as gender, discrimination, stigma, jointly prioritize identified needs like domestic resources and improved infrastructure, and advocate for efficient healthcare service delivery.
On key achievements, the state pogramme officer said that since the commencement of implementation in Plateau, the Integrated Community-led Monitoring initiative has mobilized resource, infrastructural rehabilitation/support, service Improvements, health Systems strengthening, and community participation.
According to him, from June till date, repair and re-piping of toilet facilities at Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Rantya toilet facility, Jos South, donation of brand new scanning machine to PHC Gangare by community stakeholders, Jos North, donation of ten pieces of Iron-framed chairs to PHC Gangare by community stakeholders, Jos North, donation of BP Aparatus to the facility management of PHC Dogon Agogo and donation new hospital bed mattress to PHC Pushit Management by community stakeholders, Jos North.
Other achievemensts were the purchase and donation of TB sputum cups to COCIN Rehabilitation Centre, Mangu LGA and receipt support of 500 copies of clients enrollment form through community efforts.He said that the community of Lamingo jointly mobilized resources and engaged security personnel to safeguard night-shift staff and property of PHC Lamingo on agreement of N15,000 Monthly.
He said, “These interventions have strengthened infection prevention measures, improved patient experience, and enhanced healthcare service delivery.
Ezekeiel said that for Nigeria to progress in addressing HIV, TB, Malaria, and GBV-related issues, there’s a need to implement measures that include prevention and treatment, health education and promotion, and community partnership.
He called on government, development partners, the private sector, community leaders, and citizens to extend the National/State Health Insurance program enjoyed by the formal sector to other vulnerable citizens, particularly the poor, funding of primary healthcare should be devoid of misappropriation or mismanagement to enable a robust public health program at all levels and to trioritize health education and engagement, and empower the communities to embrace positive behavior change towards achieving success in malaria, HIV, and TB responses in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Plateau state Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Yakubu Izang, described community-led monitoring as key to monitoring health services at the community level.
He said that ICLM identify gaps and challenges that the government might otherwise miss, allowing for a collaborative, synergistic approach to problem-solving.Izang emphasizes that the TB Network and similar organizations are vital partners in addressing Inequities in HIV testing:.*
Some of the CBOs working on the project also presented advocacy reports.
