REPORT OF PRIVATE SECTOR DINNER ON DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILIZATION ORGANISED BY STOP TB PARTNERSHIP – 25TH AUGUST, 2022

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This is a report of a private sector dinner organised by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and facilitated by Anadach Consulting Limited. The dinner was a follow up engagement to a High-Level meeting with the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team, by the Stop TB Partnership on Domestic Resource Mobilization to end tuberculosis in Lagos State and Nigeria in general.

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The evening started at 7.30pm with the Executives of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and Geneva in attendance. The Special Guest of Honour was Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He was in attendance with the Honorable Commissioner of Health, Prof Abayomi and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye. The private sector stakeholders’ representatives in attendance were from virtually all sectors of the economy ranging from the oil and gas, technology, healthcare and diagnostics, finance, and associations such as Private Health Alliance Sector of Nigeria (PSHAN), Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN), HIV Trust Fund, United Nations representative and International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria.

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The dinner commenced with a Welcome address by Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and her remarks stated the objective of the meeting and the need for collaboration between private and public sectors to end TB in Nigeria. This was followed by the Opening remarks by Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership, Geneva. Her address highlighted the global statistics of the disease and the increasing prevalence if the disease in children. She charged all present to support TB control efforts in the country and particularly sought partnership for childhood cases in Nigeria with the United Nations representative at the meeting. In her speech, Dr. Ditiu expressed appreciation for the support given so far for tuberculosis management in Lagos State and the promise of continuous support for TB control efforts by His Excellency, Governor Sanwo-Olu.

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The Special Guest of Honour, Governor Sanwo-Olu in his speech made the following commitments to the “End TB initiative”:

• - Step up advocacy against tuberculosis in Lagos State and the country as a whole

• - Increase funding for TB in the State budget from next financial year

• - Engage the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on increased advocacy and funding for TB in their respective states.

• - Have plans to build a world-class Infectious Disease Research Institute at the current Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. This is to show the administration’s preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics.

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There were goodwill messages from Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director and National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme on the success recorded so far with and the existing funding gaps. The representative from the Agbami parties spoke on the support provided for TB with the provision of Chest Xray clinics nationwide and continued support for the diagnosis and treatment of TB in Nigeria.

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The Chairman of the Private Sector Constituency, Dr. Richard Ajayi charged all present to support TB control efforts in Nigeria as everyone, individuals and organizations, have significant roles to play in ending tuberculosis in Nigeria.

To crown the evening, there was the presentation of “Tuberculosis Champion for Africa” award to His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu by the Stop TB Partnership, Geneva, in recognition of his support and continued commitment to ending TB in the State, the country and by extension on the African continent.

 

The High-Level Mission to Nigeria on Domestic Resource Mobilization can be adjudged to be successful with the commitment for continued advocacy support and increased funding received from the Lagos State Governor and the acceptance and participation from the private sector are noteworthy. A quick mention of the dignitaries at the event include Ms Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Foundation, the largest private Foundation on Africa based in Lagos; Mr Manesh Garg, Chief Executive Officer of Afriglobal Group,a conglomerate with business interests in chemicals distribution, logistics and healthcare industries;  Mr Dapo Otunla,Director, IHS Towers, one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world. Follow-up discussions on the necessary partnerships, awareness creation, advocacy and funding methodologies with these partners will go a long way to achieve ending Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

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