With the emergence of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) that is adversely affecting the TB control efforts in Nigeria, investigation into the availability of medicines for TB treatment has indicated that the out-of stock syndrome could be a challenge to upturn the gains made on the control of the disease.

The problem, which started about a month ago, when many states of the federation, including Oyo, Ogun and Lagos had no TB drugs to dispense, according to investigations carried out by Nigerian Tribune, had barely improved after a consignment of TB drugs was received from India.

Speaking on telephone with the Chief Logistics Officer for TB, Mrs. Ekpenoh Akpanovoh, she said the problem actually originated from the supply requiring a waiver to bring TB drugs into Nigeria from India.

According to her, Nigeria did not require a waiver to import TB drugs before now and it took some time for the waiver to be obtained for the importation of TB drugs.

She assured that presently, there was sufficient TB medications for usage until another consignment of drugs arrive from India.

TB is still a major public health problem in Nigeria, with the country ranking 5th among the 22 high TB burden countries, which collectively bear 80 per cent of the global burden of TB.

To improve identification of cases, the Federal Ministry of Health established, with support from the Global Fund, a National Reference Laboratory for the diagnosis of MDR-TB at the Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Lagos. The first treatment centre for MDR-TB using second line anti-TB drugs opened at the University College Hospital early July.

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