Idowu Abdullahi
Wives of elected lawmakers and female legislators, and other prominent women across Lagos State, on Monday, joined the cause to drive aggressive tuberculosis awareness, early testing, stigma reduction, and treatment compliance across all communities in the state.
The move to strengthen community-level tuberculosis response, they said, was part of efforts to eliminate the infection in the state by 2030.
The women, led by the First Lady of Lagos and State TB Champion, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, included female legislators, newly elected female local government chairmen, wives of House of Assembly members, and spouses of council chairmen.
The women made the commitment during their investiture as TB Champions and Ambassadors, reaffirming the State’s commitment to ending the disease by 2030.
Speaking at the event, held at the First Lady Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Alausa, Mrs Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had successfully secured three of its four female legislators as TB champions.
Aside from female legislators, she said seven of the eleven female council chairmen were invested, and 20 chairmen’s wives and seven wives of House of Assembly members were formally inducted as ambassadors in the ongoing statewide TB response.
Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, the First Lady disclosed that over 19,500 TB patients were notified in 2024, with 11,725 patients placed on treatment between January and September 2025, and emphasized that TB remains curable and treatable when communities are well informed and engaged.
She urged the honourees to use their influence in households and communities to champion TB messages, push for increased local funding, integrate TB awareness into meetings and outreach efforts, and offer support to patients who often face stigma, job loss, malnutrition, and discrimination.
Speaking on the burden of TB in Lagos, the First Lady noted that with 57 LGAs/LCDAs and millions of residents living in densely populated areas, community engagement remains the strongest tool for prevention and treatment adherence, especially against drug-resistant tuberculosis.
She stressed the need for political and legislative advocacy to protect TB patients and improve access to free screening and treatment across primary healthcare centres and general hospitals while encouraging women leaders to drive awareness in every ward, street, and social circle.
“TB is curable. That is the message we want disseminated in every community. We must end stigma and ensure people know that TB treatment is free, accessible, and effective.
As women, we are natural caregivers and influencers. Every woman here is an influencer in her home, community, and network. You don’t need social media followers to make an impact. Your voice, compassion, and leadership are enough,” she said.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described tuberculosis as “one of the most dangerous infections known to man,” warning that its slow progression makes early diagnosis difficult and late detection potentially fatal.
Abayomi raised concern that many patients discontinue their medication prematurely after initial improvement, a trend that fuels drug-resistant TB, whose treatment costs are significantly higher and last up to 18 months, posing a biosecurity threat in a megacity of over 30 million people.
He said the investiture of female legislators, female chairmen, and chairmen’s wives demonstrated a deliberate shift from hospital-centred TB control to community-driven responsibility, where respected female leaders help identify cases early and ensure treatment completion.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, commended the First Lady for championing priority health issues in Lagos, noting that the honourees would play a pivotal role in promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to TB services.
She expressed confidence that through sustained collaboration between the Lagos State Government, development partners, and community leaders, the State would record significant progress in TB control and move closer to its elimination goals.
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