The Centre for Women, Youth & Community Action (NACWYCA) has been selected as the anchor organization for a significant USAID-funded initiative aimed at increasing domestic funding for tuberculosis (TB) programs in Northern Nigeria. The SCALE project, spearheaded by Palladium in collaboration with Nigeria Resource Partners, is a five-year effort designed to enhance public accountability, transparency, and sustainable service delivery by empowering local civil society organizations (CSOs).
Nigeria, ranked as the sixth highest nation globally for TB cases in 2021, faces a critical need for increased domestic funding for its TB programs. The National TB and Leprosy Control Program has been heavily reliant on external funding, with current domestic allocations falling short of the country’s needs. The SCALE project addresses this gap by working to secure sustainable domestic funding, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where the burden is most severe.
NACWYCA, along with a coalition of community-based organizations (CBOs), will work towards several key objectives by 2025. These goals include securing annual budgetary allocations for TB programs in Bauchi and Katsina States, ensuring the release of 50% of budgeted TB funds for 2024 in Nasarawa, Benue, and Plateau States, and reactivating and establishing a total of 100 Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) centers across various states. Specific renovations are also planned for six DOT centers in Katsina State.
The organizations collaborating with NACWYCA in this effort are:
- Health Development Alternative Initiative (HDAI), Kano
- LANGA Women Development Initiative (LWDI), Bauchi
- Community Awareness and Development Initiative (CADI), Katsina
- Kaneng Rwang Pam Foundation for Education Migration Awareness (KRP_FEMA), Plateau State
- Okaha Women and Children Development Organization (OWACDO), Benue State
Despite TB being a curable and preventable disease, it continues to cause thousands of deaths annually in Northern Nigeria due to underfunding, political neglect, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. The SCALE project, with its advocacy-focused approach, aims to address these challenges head-on, significantly reducing the TB burden and improving healthcare outcomes in the region.
“This project represents a vital step forward in securing the necessary resources and political commitment to combat TB in Northern Nigeria,” said Mr. Godwin Daniel, Communications Officer for the project. “Our collaborative efforts with local CBOs and other stakeholders will be crucial in achieving these ambitious goals and ultimately saving lives.”
The initiative reflects a concerted effort to bring about sustainable change and ensure that TB programs in Northern Nigeria are adequately funded and effectively managed, paving the way for better health and well-being for millions in the region.