March 27, 2025 by and Chinyere Okoroafor

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has directed the establishment of a Primary Healthcare Centre(PHC) in Sauka, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for the containment of Tuberculosis (TB), a contagious bacterial infection affecting over 360,000 Nigerians, including children.

The project execution will be overseen by Dolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Services and Environment Secretariat, It will be supported by FCT Minister  Nyesom Wike.

The First Lady, who serves as the Global and National Stop TB Champion, gave the directive during the commemoration of 2025 World TB Day in Abuja yesterday.

Also yesterday, she launched the “Free to Shine” campaign, a major advocacy initiative targeting the elimination of HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and Hepatitis by 2030 in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The Free to Shine which is led by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in collaboration with the African Union and global health partners, seeks to curb HIV/AIDS infections, prevent mother-to-child transmission and expand access to treatment.

It also aims to eliminate Syphilis and Hepatitis by 2030. 

The Federal Ministry of Health last year said there were over 100,000 children and nearly two million adults living with HIV.

Mrs Tinubu, who is also a member of the Steering Committee of OAFLAD, explained that the theme of this year’s TB Day,  “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” was translated to “We Fit Run Am; A Collective Call for Action Against TB” to better connect with the communities.

She said: “To support the fight against this communicable disease, I will not only donate N1 billion, but I also approve the request for the establishment of a PHC  in Sauka community.

“This initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for an efficient healthcare system. The Mandate Secretary, Dr. Fasawe will oversee the implementation of this project through the support of our dedicated FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike.” 

The First Lady said that the PHC would serve as a critical hub for TB detection, treatment, and general healthcare services.

She expressed concern that TB,  “despite being preventable and treatable,   remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, ranking the country among those with the highest TB burden globally.’’