Abuja, Nigeria – 26th July 2024
Lawyers Alert announces the release of its report on “Human Rights Violations
Associated with Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria.” This report arguably the first in Nigeria,
provides in-depth analysis of the human rights abuses faced by people affected by TB
across Nigeria. It serves as a crucial resource for advocacy and policy-making, aiming
to end stigma and discrimination and improve the quality of TB care and prevention
services for Persons Affected by Tuberculosis (PATBs).
Background
Tuberculosis remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, which has one of
the highest TB burdens in the world. Despite advances in medical treatment, Persons
Affected by TB often face severe human rights violations, including stigma,
discrimination, and barriers to accessing care. Lawyers Alert, undertook to document
these violations in close collaboration with the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and
Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, to
provide a basis of law and policy reforms.
History
The project began in 2023 with the support of Stop TB Partnership, driven by a need to
address the intersection of public health approaches to TB and human rights in the TB
response. Lawyers Alert engaged with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers,
civil society organizations, and TB survivors, to define and map out the indicators of
rights violations associated with TB. This collaborative effort laid the groundwork for the
comprehensive data collection and analysis that underpins the report.
Data Collection Process
The data for the report was collected using the Lawyers Alert Documentation Tool
(LadockT), an online platform designed to capture and analyze qualitative data on rights
violations. This tool was expanded to include TB-specific violations, allowing for a
detailed documentation of the experiences of PATBs across Nigeria’s 774 local
government areas (LGAs). Key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and TB
survivors, were trained on the use of LadockT to ensure consistency and accuracy in
data collection.
The data collection process also leveraged the One Impact platform, which facilitated
the reporting of violations and provided free legal services to those affected. This approach ensured a robust and inclusive dataset, reflecting the diverse experiences of
PATBs across different regions and demographics.
Key Findings
By the report, the highest recorded violation relates to Stigma and Discrimination,
accounting for 53% of incidents. This was closely followed by Broken Conjugal Rights
and disruption of family life, which came second at 43%. Violations in Medical and
Health Care ranked third at 6%, and Wrongful Social Economic Practices had an
insignificant reportage of less than 1%. This statistic points towards the challenges
faced by persons affected by TB and emphasizes the need for comprehensive
approaches in addressing their rights and protection.
In terms of Geo-political Zones with the highest TB violations, the North Central Zone
ranked highest at 51%, closely followed by the South West Zone at 21%. The South-
South Zone was third at 12%, while the North East and North West were next at 6%,
with South East Zone ranking fourth at 4%. For States with the highest violations, the
FCT and Benue topped that chart at 22%, closely followed by Lagos State at 12%.
Enugu, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kano, Delta, and Edo came third at 4%. The states with the
least reportage at 2% each were Cross River, Ogun, Kaduna, Oyo, Plateau, Ekiti,
Gombe, Osun, and Akwa Ibom. At the LGA level, Abuja Municipal ranked highest at
20%, with Guma in Benue State coming second at 14%, Alimosho in Lagos State was
third at 8%, and in fourth place was Bauchi LGA in Bauchi State and Bomadi LGA in
Delta at 4%. Other LGAs were recorded at 2%, respectively. This statistic identifies
geographic prevalence and underscores for the need for tailored interventions to
address right violations
Key Recommendations
The report also outlined key recommendations to combat rights violations associated
with TB as follows:
Government should encourage community-led initiatives, empowering people
affected by TB (PATBs) to document experiences, share insights, and actively
participate in decision-making for TB interventions.
Stakeholders should prioritize awareness creation and relevant training for
healthcare workers, community members, and the public to reduce TB-related
violations. Campaigns should focus on dispelling myths, reducing stigma, and
promoting inclusivity in TB prevention and treatment.
There should be policy and legal reforms to protect PATBs' rights, prohibit
discrimination, and enhance access to justice. Integrate human rights and gender
perspectives into health policies to address determinants exacerbating TB
violations.
Civil Society organisations should develop a joint advocacy plan with strategies
to strengthen health systems, ensuring TB services are available, accessible,
acceptable, and of high quality.
There should be multisectoral collaboration and a robust framework to track
progress, identify gaps, and measure the impact of interventions addressing TB-
related human rights violations.
These recommendations aim to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for
persons affected by TB, ultimately contributing to the eradication of stigma,
discrimination and all forms of right violations.
Conclusion
Lawyers Alert urges all stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society
organizations, and community leaders, to take note of these findings. The organization
emphasizes the importance of upholding human rights in advancing a right based and
people center TB- response. Through this report, we hope to raise awareness on right
violations associated with TB and encourage meaningful dialogue among stakeholders.
The full report, including detailed analysis and recommendations, can be accessed
under the resource page on Lawyers Alert website and is also attached to this Release.
Link
About Lawyers Alert:
Lawyers Alert is a legal and human rights-based organization in Nigeria that works on
health rights, particularly TB and works with key populations that includes women,
Persons affected by Tuberculosis, Persons living with HIV, slum dwellers, Prisoners,
Persons with Disabilities, etc.
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