Health experts and stakeholders have voiced growing concerns over the critical shortage of tuberculosis (TB) drugs in Akwa Ibom State and across Nigeria, warning of dire consequences for public health. The shortage, part of a larger global supply issue, is now threatening to disrupt the treatment of TB patients, stall preventive therapy for new cases, and fuel the risk of drug-resistant strains.
The State TB Programme Manager for Akwa Ibom, Dr. Bassey Akpan, revealed the severity of the situation, stating that the lack of essential TB medications is already affecting the treatment of current patients and delaying the implementation of TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) for new patients.
“This global shortage of TB drugs is significantly impacting Nigeria’s public health system,” Akpan said. “It’s posing a serious threat to ongoing treatment and preventing the initiation of new patients on TPT.”
Global Crisis, Local Impact
The shortage is not limited to Akwa Ibom alone but reflects a broader crisis affecting many regions in Nigeria. Dr. Akpan elaborated on how the global scarcity of TB drugs has trickled down to the national level, straining local healthcare facilities’ ability to provide life-saving medications to TB patients.
“Patients currently undergoing treatment are at risk of interruptions, which can lead to drug resistance,” he warned. TB drug resistance is a serious issue because it makes the disease harder to treat, requiring more complex and expensive medications with longer treatment durations. This could set back years of progress in controlling the disease.
In addition to the threat of drug-resistant TB, the shortage is preventing the start of TPT for new patients, a critical step in stopping the spread of the disease. Akpan pointed out that without preventive therapy, the likelihood of increased transmission and new infections grows significantly. This could lead to a surge in TB cases in the coming months, further burdening Nigeria’s already stretched healthcare system.
Advocacy and Legal Response
The issue was raised during a meeting organized by Lawyers Alert, a human rights advocacy group, under the project titled Law, Rights, and Community Empowerment for Social Change in TB, HIV, and Malaria Response. Supported by the Gender Equality Fund (GEF), the project aims to address health rights violations and promote better access to treatment for marginalized communities.
Lawyers Alert, along with the Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR), expressed grave concerns about the public health and human rights implications of the drug shortage. They warned that the lack of access to essential TB medications could be seen as a violation of patients’ rights to quality healthcare, particularly for persons affected by TB (PATBs).
In a joint statement, Lawyers Alert and MHR emphasized the need for urgent action to resolve the crisis. “We remain committed to working with the State TB Program and other stakeholders to explore all avenues to mitigate the effects of this shortage,” they said. “Our focus will be on advocating for increased national and international support to resolve the TB drug shortage crisis, ensuring equitable distribution of available medications, and keeping the public informed about the situation.”
Threat of Rationing and Public Health Risks
One of the most alarming outcomes of the drug shortage is the possibility of rationing the limited supply of TB medications. Dr. Akpan noted that discussions have begun about how to stretch the available drugs to cover as many patients as possible, but this strategy could have serious drawbacks.
Rationing drugs would likely undermine TB control efforts across the country, as incomplete treatment can lead to the development of multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). MDR-TB is far more difficult and expensive to treat and could lead to more fatalities if the current shortage is not addressed swiftly.
Calls for Collaboration and Support
In response to the escalating crisis, health experts and advocates are calling for stronger collaboration between public and private sectors. They argue that only a concerted effort can prevent a full-blown public health emergency. This would involve not only securing an adequate supply of TB medications but also ensuring that they are distributed equitably to the regions most affected by the shortage.
“We need to work together at all levels, from government bodies to international organizations, to address this crisis before it spirals out of control,” said representatives from Lawyers Alert and MHR. They called for immediate intervention from both national and international health organizations to ensure that Nigeria receives the necessary support to overcome the shortage.
The looming public health emergency could have far-reaching effects, not only threatening TB patients but also undermining progress made in other areas of health, such as HIV and malaria, which are often interconnected with TB treatment. Advocates continue to urge the Nigerian government and the international community to prioritize resolving the TB drug shortage, thereby preventing further health complications and safeguarding the health rights of all affected patients.
As the country grapples with this drug crisis, the hope is that increased awareness, advocacy, and international collaboration will lead to a swift resolution, protecting the lives of TB patients and preventing the spread of the disease across Nigeria.
