By Sarah NEGEDU
The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, says the Federal Capital Territory Administration has scaled up its tuberculosis response with over 10 diagnostic machines now in place, following the latest donation by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Fasawe disclosed this on the sidelines of the commissioning ceremony held at Dutsen Makaranta Primary Health Centre in Abuja, where the First Lady handed over a newly installed TB diagnostic machine as part of her Renewed Hope Initiative health outreach.
She said the equipment will boost early detection, particularly in hard-to-reach communities, and reinforce the FCT’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s high TB burden.
Speaking to newsmen after the event, the Mandate Secretary said, “Our people don’t have to go to secondary hospitals anymore. You don’t need to give blood. These machines are fast, safe, and solar-powered, so even in communities without electricity, we can still test and treat.”
Fasawe, while highlighting the tuberculosis burden in Nigeria, noted that tuberculosis remains one of the country’s most under-reported killers, with over 100 Nigerians infected daily and at least seven deaths recorded every 24 hours, despite treatment being free.
She therefore commended the First Lady’s sustained commitment to healthcare, citing her earlier donation of safety gear for frontline workers and her renewed focus on TB as a turning point in the national response.
“Her Excellency has supported this cause with billions of naira. With these machines and her intervention, more attention is being paid to tuberculosis. We’re diagnosing faster, saving lives quicker, and bringing healthcare closer to the people.”
Speaking during the formal commissioning, Fasawe said the FCT’s growing capacity to detect and manage TB cases reflects the kind of inter-governmental collaboration that ended diseases like polio in Nigeria.
“If we could end polio, we can end TB,” she said. “With the collaboration of health workers, royal fathers, religious leaders, and the media, we can truly stop the spread.”
She also stressed that tuberculosis is not limited to people living with HIV, noting that anyone with weakened immunity, including pregnant women and undernourished individuals, could be vulnerable.
“You can have TB without even coughing. There’s TB of the spine, TB of the bone. But once we catch it early, the patient starts improving within days and within weeks, they’re cured. Nobody should die of TB.”
In her remarks, the First Lady, represented by the wife of Kwara State Governor, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said the new diagnostic machines would be deployed nationwide to enhance early detection, especially in underserved areas.
“Tuberculosis is curable, but far too many Nigerians are still dying from it—not because there’s no technology, but because access to diagnostic tools is limited,” she said. “This is why today’s commissioning is so significant.”
She urged stakeholders to increase domestic investment in the national TB response and reaffirmed her pledge of an additional N1 billion through the Renewed Hope Initiative to support rapid testing and treatment.
“As the global and national champion for TB, I assure you I will continue to advocate and lead the fight to end TB in Nigeria by 2030,” she said.
Fasawe described the donation as timely and inclusive, saying the First Lady had made it clear that the services were for all Nigerians, regardless of political or religious affiliation.
“This is not just a tech show. It’s a call to action. Health promotion is not a programme. It’s a way of life. And with the commitment we are seeing, Yes, we can end TB.”
Earlier, in her goodwill message, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the First Lady’s donation as a “bold and strategic response” to Nigeria’s tuberculosis burden, especially among vulnerable communities.
“This event is not only timely but also a testament to the unwavering support of the First Lady to championing healthcare interventions that directly improve the lives of our people,” she said.
She noted that the new machine would strengthen early detection and expand access to life-saving services across the FCT.
“For us in the FCT, this intervention is a welcome boost to our ongoing efforts to curb infectious diseases, promote community health, and expand the reach of our diagnostic capabilities, especially in underserved communities,” Mahmoud added.
