Faith and Tuberculosis: Experience and Opportunity in Nigeria

Abstract

Systematic efforts to engage faith actors in combatting tuberculosis are not yet an integral part of global or national TB efforts. This brief explores the issue at a country level by focusing on Nigeria where there are urgent calls for action, and the government has pledged to increase budget allocations to address TB. With the world’s fourth largest population affected by TB, Nigeria faces the general challenges that this complex disease presents as well as specific challenges related to a large population and TB’s interactions with other public health problems. Faith actors in Nigeria provide healthcare services and have intimate community knowledge and trust; they influence community and policy attitudes in significant ways.