CurrentReport Blog As preparations for the 2025 budget in Akwa Ibom State intensify, a significant development has emerged. Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has successfully garnered commitments from key stakeholders, including the State House of Assembly and government officials, to ensure that Tuberculosis (TB) treatment is included as a line item in the upcoming budget. This commitment was solidified during a stakeholders’ round table discussion held in Uyo, the state capital, on Thursday.
The event, organized in partnership with the Palladium Group and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), emphasized the need for dedicated funding for TB treatment in Akwa Ibom. The Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, highlighted the program’s objective to introduce Tuberculosis as a stand-alone item in Akwa Ibom’s budget, similar to other states like Anambra, Imo, Delta, and Cross River, where unique demands to combat TB are being addressed.
Represented by Mr. Faith Paulinus, Bolton-Akpan expressed concern that despite the alarming spread of TB in the state, with over 3,200 reported cases, the disease was not included in the 2024 budget. He emphasized the urgency of correcting this oversight in the 2025 budget, which led to the engagement of relevant stakeholders.
Edidiong Dickson, the Programme Officer of Policy Alert, underscored the challenges in TB care in the state, particularly the inadequate facilities for housing patients with drug-resistant TB. He pointed out the need for gender-segregated facilities, which are currently lacking, making it difficult to provide adequate care. He advocated for the allocation of budgetary resources to construct larger facilities to accommodate both men and women while also providing space for recreational activities for patients.
Moses Essien, Chairman of the House Committee on Health at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, pledged the Assembly’s readiness to collaborate with any organization committed to combating TB. He stressed the importance of legislation in strengthening the fight against this infectious disease and acknowledged the need for government intervention through sustained funding. Essien expressed concern about the fate of TB patients if international donors were to withdraw their support and affirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining financial backing for TB control.
Victor Edet, Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State Fiscal Responsibility Committee, representing the Commissioner for Finance, Linus Nkan, emphasized that for TB treatment to receive funding and be included in the budget, the relevant ministry, department, or agency must first propose a specific budget line. He reiterated that government spending must be strictly in line with the budget and urged Policy Alert to collaborate with the responsible ministry to ensure their demands are met.
Dr. Arthur Igbemi echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that it is the responsibility of the MDAs to include TB in the budget proposals. He lauded Policy Alert for its strategic and dialogue-driven approach to advocating for TB treatment, aligning with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE agenda.
