The Zankli Research Centre of Bingham University and The LIGHT Consortium recently hosted a parliamentary meeting with the Federal House of Representatives Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This forum addressed the significant challenges posed by tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria and identified strategies for a sustainable and impactful response to the epidemic.  

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the House House committee, Hon. Amobi Ogah, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Baba Zango, commended the Zankli Research Centre, Light Consortium, and its partners for their efforts in addressing the alarming TB statistics in Nigeria. The country ranks first in Africa and sixth globally, contributing 4.6% of the global TB burden. He emphasized the need for sustained partnerships, innovative, gender-sensitive approaches to TB care and treatment, which are essential tools to effectively combating the disease.

He assured attendees of the House Committee's commitment to eradicating TB, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and malaria in Nigeria by 2030. He expressed confidence that the meeting outcomes would enhance TB care and urged continued collaboration among stakeholders.   

Associate Professor Toyosi Adekeye, Research Uptake Manager for the LIGHT Consortium in Nigeria, and Head of Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care at Bingham University, provided an overview of the six-year global health research program funded by UK Aid. He highlighted the Consortium’s gender-sensitive approach to health for TB patients, aiming to influence policy and enhance TB care in Nigeria.

Dr. Ebuka Ugwu, an Early Career Researcher with the Consortium, presented sobering global and national TB burden statistics. He noted that Nigeria leads Africa in TB prevalence, with 98,000 annual deaths—an average of 268 lives lost daily to this preventable and treatable disease. His data underscored the urgency for innovative, gender-sensitive strategies to combat stigma, improve access to care, and protect the most affected populations, particularly men.  

Speaking also, the CEO of the LIGHT Consortium, Dr. Rachael Thompson stated that LIGHT is a six-year cross-disciplinary global health research programme, led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in collaboration with partners in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and the UK. LIGHT aims to support policy and practice in transforming gendered pathways to health for people with TB in urban settings. This will lead to enhanced overall health and well-being, improved socio-economic outcomes, equity, and will contribute to the efforts of ending TB by 2030.  She advocated for parliamentary involvement and increased funding to end TB, as well as holistic changes to Nigeria’s health care system to address gender disparities.

The meeting concluded with a photo exhibit from the Photovoice project and other research poster presentations. The LIGHT Consortium and Zankli Research Centre's partnership with legislative bodies marks a greater step toward addressing TB challenges in Nigeria. 

In attendance were Hon, Saba Ahmed Adamu, Hon, Jafaru Leko, Hon. Dominic Okafor, Hon. Fom Dalyop, Dr.8John Bimba, Team Lead and Director of Zankli Research Centre; Prof. Bertie Squire, Emperor Ubochima, Ministry of Health; Dr. Obioma Akanairo, NTBLCP; Deborah Ikeh, amongst others.