Global Shortage of TB Drugs and impact on TB treatment in Nigeria

Press Statement – Akwa Ibom, September 13, 2024

There is a critical global shortage of Tuberculosis (TB)drugs not only in Nigeria but globally. This revelation was made during a recent stakeholder meeting with Dr Boniface …the State TB Program Manager of Akwa Ibom, by the Gender Equality Fund (GEF) team led by Lawyers Alert, under the project titled ‘Law, Rights and Community Empowerment for Social Change in TB, HIV, and Malaria Response’. This shortage is significantly impacting Nigeria, posing a severe threat to the ongoing treatment of TB patients and the initiation of new patients on TB Preventive Therapy (TPT).

The State TB Program Manager highlighted the following key points:

  1. Global Shortage: There is a worldwide scarcity of TB drugs, which has led to a substantial reduction in the availability of these essential medications in Nigeria.
  2. Impact on Treatment: The shortage will adversely affect individuals currently undergoing TB treatment, potentially leading to interruptions in their therapy and increased risk of drug resistance.
  3. Challenges for TPT: The initiation of new patients on TB Preventive Therapy will be severely hampered, increasing the risk of TB transmission and new infections.
  4. Rationing of Drugs: Due to the limited supply, TB drugs will need to be rationed, which is far from ideal and could compromise the effectiveness of TB control efforts.

The project team members comprised of Lawyers Alert and Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria -MHR is deeply concerned about this development and its potential impact on public health and their right to access quality health care. We are committed to working closely with the State TB Program and other stakeholders to explore all possible avenues to mitigate the effects of this shortage. This includes advocating for increased support, equitable distribution of TB drugs and effectively reporting the status of this process.

We urge the public and private sectors to collaborate closely to resolve this crisis swiftly. Additionally, we advocate for increased transparency and communication regarding the status of drug supplies to better manage the current shortage and mitigate its impact.

For further information, please contact: Lawyers Alert https://www.lawyersalertng.org/

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