7 August 2009 | ABUJA -- In a ceremony held on August 7, 2009, Dr Peter Eriki, the WHO representative in Nigeria, formally handed over a consignment of anti-TB drugs to the Hon. Minister of Health, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin. The drugs, a donation to Nigeria from the Global Drug Facility (GDF) worth $ 1,75 million dollars, will cover the treatment of over 30,000 TB patients, including children.

Handing over the drugs to the Minister, at a ceremony held at the Federal Medical stores, Oshodi, Lagos, Dr Eriki, noted that one of the main components of the DOTS strategy is the provision of an un-interrupted supply of good quality anti-TB drugs. He emphasized that, in view of the increasing TB/HIV co-infection rates and the emerging threats of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, every effort must be made to ensure that first line drugs are made available. It is important to avoid interruption of treatment and the consequent risk of MDR TB.

Responding, Prof Oshotimehin expressed gratitude to WHO and the GDF for their support. He acknowledged the efforts of Dr Peter Eriki in ensuring the provision of WHO technical support to the Ministry of Health. The Minister promised that the TB drugs would be distributed immediately to all the state TB programmes. Dr Mansur Kabir, the National TB/Leprosy programme manager, echoed the thanks of the Minister.

WHO Nigeria has been providing assistance for forecasting, ordering, and port handling of TB drugs since 2002. WHO diplomatic clearing facilities are used to assist the FMOH in clearing drugs while the Ministry pays the port and demurrage charges. GDF, an initiative of the Stop TB Partnership to increase access to high quality anti-TB drugs, was established in 2001. Housed in WHO headquarters Geneva, the GDF ensures a supply of drugs from reliable companies to TB endemic countries at greatly reduced costs. The aim of the GDF is to expand access to TB drugs to enable expansion of the DOTS TB treatment programme. So far Nigeria had received eight years of free supplies from the GDF, however, 2009 will be the last year of free supply to Nigeria.