Tuberculosis: FCTA Deploys 10 Testing Machines As First Lady Donates N1bn

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified its response to tuberculosis (TB) with the deployment of more than 10 diagnostic machines across the nation’s capital.

Speaking at the commissioning of a TB diagnostic machine at the Dutsen Makaranta Primary Health Centre in Abuja, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the new equipment would enhance early detection and treatment in FCT communities.

“Our people don’t have to go to secondary hospitals anymore. These machines are fast, safe, and solar-powered. So even in communities without electricity, we can still test and treat,” Fasawe told journalists after the event.

Meanwhile, the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Kwara State Governor, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, reaffirmed her commitment to ending TB in Nigeria by 2030 and announced an additional N1bn pledge to support rapid testing and treatment nationwide.

She said, “Tuberculosis is curable, but far too many Nigerians are still dying from it—not because there’s no technology, but because access to diagnostic tools is limited. This is why today’s commissioning is so significant.”

Fasawe described the First Lady’s support as a turning point in the fight against TB, while citing previous interventions including safety gear donations for frontline workers.

She noted that TB remains one of Nigeria’s most under-reported killers, infecting over 100 Nigerians daily and causing at least seven deaths every 24 hours—despite free treatment.

“With these machines and her intervention, more attention is being paid to tuberculosis. We’re diagnosing faster, saving lives quicker, and bringing healthcare closer to the people,” Fasawe said.

The newly commissioned machine is one of over 10 now operational in the FCT, which reflects what Fasawe called a “scaling up” of the territory’s capacity to detect and manage TB cases.

She credited inter-governmental collaboration, similar to the campaign that eradicated polio in Nigeria, as key to achieving TB elimination.

“If we could end polio, we can end TB. With the collaboration of health workers, royal fathers, religious leaders, and the media, we can truly stop the spread,” she declared.

The Mandate Secretary emphasised that tuberculosis affects more than just people living with HIV.

“You can have TB without even coughing,” she said, pointing to lesser-known forms such as TB of the spine and bones.

She further said, “Once we catch it early, the patient starts improving within days and within weeks, they’re cured. Nobody should die of TB.”

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, in her goodwill message, described the First Lady’s donation as a “bold and strategic response” to Nigeria’s TB burden, especially among vulnerable communities.

“This event is not only timely but also a testament to the unwavering support of the First Lady in championing healthcare interventions that directly improve the lives of our people,” Mahmoud said.

She added that the intervention would boost access to life-saving services and reinforce the FCT’s ongoing efforts to promote community health and expand diagnostic reach.

Fasawe called for sustained action beyond political or religious lines.

“This is not just a tech show. It’s a call to action. Health promotion is not a programme—it’s a way of life. And with the commitment we are seeing, yes, we can end TB,” she added.

Tuberculosis: FCTA Deploys 10 Testing Machines As First Lady Donates N1bn is first published on The Whistler Newspaper