Joel Ajayi
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has raised alarm over ongoing stock-out of critical Tuberculosis (TB) commodities across the country and the continued failure of Government to adequately finance TB programmes, procure essential TB commodities, and fulfil its counterpart funding commitments to the national TB response.
The National Coordinator of a Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, (NEPWHAN), Mr, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Ibrahim, who expressed deep concerns over the stock-out of TB commodities, said that Nigeria has continued to carry one of the highest burdens of TB globally.
He said that the current shortage of TB medicines, diagnostics, and related commodities represent a major public health emergency that threatens the lives of thousands of Nigerians, particularly people living with HIV (PLHIV), among whom TB remains the leading cause of death.
“Recent Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) findings from NEPWHAN and its implementing partners indicate widespread disruptions in the availability of essential TB commodities across monitored health facilities.
“Community monitors documented repeated reports of stock-outs and rationing of antiTB medicines, diagnostic commodities, and laboratory supplies, resulting in delayed treatment initiation, interrupted treatment continuity, and increased referrals of patients to multiple facilities in search of medicines,” he said.
According to him, our CLM data for the first quarter of this year show that:
64.2 per cent of monitored facilities reported stock-out of at least one essential TB commodity, especially Drug Susceptible TB CAT1, during the reporting period.
Ibrahim explained that 58.2 per cent of facilities reported shortages of GeneXpert
and sputum collection materials, and
43 per cent (921) of patients interviewed reported being asked to return at a later date due to unavailable commodities.
He said: “These findings demonstrate that the TB commodity shortage is already affecting service delivery and patient outcomes.
“For people living with HIV, who remain at significantly higher risk of developing TB, interruptions in TB diagnosis and treatment substantially increase morbidity and mortality while undermining national HIV epidemic control efforts.”
The NEPWHAN National Coordinator also expressed grave concern over the continued unavailability and limited access to essential medicines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections (OIs) among people living with HIV, particularly those presenting with Advanced HIV Disease (AHD).
He raised alarm over the high risk of his members, saying that Across their network, they continue to receive reports from community members who are unable to access lifesaving medicines for conditions such as cryptococcal meningitis, Tuberculosis, severe bacterial infections, and other AIDS related illnesses.
“For individuals diagnosed late, returning to care after treatment interruption, or experiencing treatment failure, the lack of access to these critical medicines significantly increases the risk of severe illness and death.
“In our last supervisory visits within the AFROCAB small grant funded by UNITAID (THRIVE Project), of the 18 facilities visited across Anambra, Rivers and Benue States, only few facilities in Anambra State reported availability of OI medicines.
“Others reported none.
For communities affected by HIV and TB, this is not merely a supply-chain challenge; it is a life-threatening crisis with far-reaching consequences for patients, families, and the health system.’
Ibrahim said that Treatment interruptions increase the risk of severe illness, drug resistance, preventable deaths, and continued transmission of TB within vulnerable populations.
He reiterated NEPWHAN’s concern that despite longstanding commitments to strengthen domestic financing for health and reduce dependence on external support, Government investment in TB programming remains inadequate.
He said that the inability to meet counterpart funding obligations and proactively procure essential TB commodities has contributed significantly to the current situation, and has placed millions of Nigerians at unnecessary risk.
Ibrahim commended Global Fund for the support of over 500,000 newly identified cases placed on treatment in 2025, using the 2026 Global Fund grant allocation to save lives due to the inability of the Nigerian Government to do the needful.
He however called on the Federal Executive Council to approve and ensure the funds are released for immediate procurement because People Living with HIV affected by advance HIV diseases are dying due to Government’s inaction.
“These deaths are not merely statistics; they represent parents, children, breadwinners, and community members whose lives could often be saved through timely diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment for opportunistic infections and Advanced HIV Disease.
Ibrahim said that saving treatment is a fundamental human right, and Governments have a responsibility to take all necessary measures to protect that right.
He explained that the lives of thousands of Nigerians depend on swift and decisive action.
Ibrahim therefore urged the Federal Government to act now before this crisis escalates further and undermines years of progress in the fight against TB and HIV.
