Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to take tuberculosis (TB) seriously and seek early medical intervention, stressing that delayed treatment continues to result in avoidable deaths.
In a statement marking World Tuberculosis Day 2025, she emphasized that TB is both preventable and curable, but only when detected early and treated promptly.
“If you have a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fever, please visit the nearest health facility for free TB testing and treatment,” she urged. “TB is curable, and early treatment saves lives.”
As the National and Global Stop TB Champion, Senator Tinubu described the fight against tuberculosis as personal, revealing that she had lost a close friend to the disease.
“This serves as a painful reminder that TB remains a major health threat, particularly when it goes undiagnosed and untreated,” she said.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”, she emphasized the need for strong political commitment, investment in proven solutions, and expanded access to life-saving interventions.
She urged all Nigerians to rally behind the national TB response, declaring:
“Together, Yes! We Can End TB. Let us commit, invest, and deliver on this promise for a healthier, TB-free Nigeria.”
World Tuberculosis Day, observed annually on March 24, aims to raise awareness about the severe health, social, and economic impact of TB and reinforce global efforts to eliminate the disease.
Despite being both curable and preventable, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that TB remains one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.