By Danjuma Amodu | March 24, 2026
Nigeria marked World TB Day 2026 with the launch of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and the unveiling of the Multi-sectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) application.
Delivering his address at the event, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, commended partners and stakeholders for their support, emphasizing Nigeria’s commitment to ending TB and HIV.
“We are in a world far different from where we have been 10-15 years ago in this fight. The global space is changing right in front of our eyes, with multiple crises and limited financing. Innovations like Lenacapavir will help us get ahead of challenges.”
Pate disclosed this while speaking at the 2026 World TB Day Commemoration with the official launch of the Multisectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) and the long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.
The event organised by the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and brought together government officials, development partners, civil society groups and health stakeholders.
Prof. Pate highlighted Nigeria’s transition to a Sector-Wide Approach, integrating health services and increasing domestic funding. “The federal government is committed to ensuring we meet our commitments, with the President directing the Budget Office to include $346 million in the 2026 budget for HIV, TB, and malaria programs.”
According to him, Nigeria was already taking steps to increase budgetary allocations and ensure stronger accountability in the use of funds.
“We want to exit dependency over time. By 2030, Nigeria should be able to put its own domestic resources toward the priority diseases that affect our people so that it is not consistently looking for this grant or that grant,” Pate said.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the developments reflect Nigeria’s shift towards an innovative, integrated, and accountable health system. “We have made notable progress in TB and HIV responses, with TB case notifications surging from 138,591 in 2020 to 440,000 in 2025. HIV response has achieved 93% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 99% receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95% virally suppressed.”
Dr. Salako commended partners like the Global Fund, US Government, UNAIDS, WHO, and UNICEF for their support. He urged Nigerians to get tested for TB and HIV, emphasizing that testing and treatment are free.
The launch of Lenacapavir and MAF-TB signals Nigeria’s leadership in adopting scientific breakthroughs and strengthening health systems.
“Together, through innovation, integration, and accountability, we can accelerate progress toward ending HIV and tuberculosis as public health threats,” Dr. Salako said.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Katilum Daju, emphasized the importance of the event, saying, “Today’s gathering is more than a ceremonial observance. It marks two significant milestones in Nigeria’s public health response.”
The Permanent Secretary, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to strengthening surveillance, improving access to diagnosis and treatment while expanding community-based screening to ensure that no one was left behind.
NEPWHAN National Coordinator, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, hailed the launch of Lenacapavir, urging increased access and availability.
“We are happy with this leadership, and we appeal to the government to make it more available and accessible to people. We want to appeal that less government puts resources in this, because we have just recieved allocation letter from the Global Fund amounting to about 790 million US dollers.”
Global Fund Representative, Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, in his remarks lauded Nigeria’s progress and commitment to ending TB and HIV. He urged the government to sustain funding and strengthen domestic ownership to protect these gains.
“The deployment of Lenacapavir represents a game-changer in HIV prevention. We expect the government to accelerate deployment to the whole country. The global fund ambition is to reach two million people with Lenacapavir by the end of 2028.”
The event concluded with a call to action by Dr. Salako: “Yes, we can end TB and HIV! Let’s rededicate ourselves to building a healthier, more resilient nation.”
