Akwa Ibom State Takes Bold Step Towards Eliminating Tuberculosis with Receipt of New Draft Bill
By Ekemini Simon
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has received a draft bill aimed at eliminating Tuberculosis (TB) and upholding the rights and dignity of persons affected by TB in Akwa Ibom State.
The proposed legislation titled “Akwa Ibom State Tuberculosis Control, Human Rights Protection, and Anti-Discrimination bill was presented to the State Assembly through the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health by the Gender Equity Fund (GEF) Advocacy Team supported by Lawyers Alert.
Part of the objectives of the bill include providing a framework for the prevention, control, and elimination of TB in Akwa Ibom State, protection of the human rights of persons affected by TB, ensuring their dignity and access to healthcare without discrimination, strengthening legal mechanisms for addressing violations of the rights of persons living with or affected by TB, and ensuring institutional accountability and strengthening of the public health response by fostering collaboration among government agencies, healthcare providers, non-governmental organizations, and international partners.
Others are enhancing awareness and education about TB to combat stigma and misinformation, thereby creating a supportive environment for TB-affected persons, encouraging innovation and research in TB prevention, treatment, and control to adopt global best practices and develop locally relevant solutions, mobilizing sustainable funding and resources for TB programmes and ensure their effective allocation and utilization to meet national TB control goals, and promotion of public awareness, research, and partnerships in combating TB.
Presenting the draft bill on Monday, July 28, 2025 during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Moses Essien, the Team Lead, Edidiong Enang said the presentation of the draft bill was a follow up to the commitment made by the Committee Chairman during GEF Stakeholders engagement to champion the legislative process of the Akwa Ibom State Tuberculosis (TB) Bill.
She said since the committee has a reputation for being development oriented, the team was sure that the bill will be pushed to the stage of a law passed, assented and implemented.
In response, the Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon Moses Essien described the draft bill as an important and timely intervention required to bring relief to those affected by TB.
While pledging his full legislative support to the draft bill, Essien assured that the legislative processes the bill will pass through will make the bill one of the best laws in the State when passed.
He added ” I learnt this same bill is at the stage of an ongoing legislation at the National Assembly, it is only appropriate we do the same here in the State as it will give voice and support to those suffering from TB in the State.
” I must sincerely commend this group and Lawyers Alert for fighting for these people who seem not to have much support from the government at the moment but are surviving only through donor agencies. With this bill, that narrative will change “.
Meanwhile, the advocacy visit was part of a broader project being implemented by Lawyers Alert Nigeria with support from the Gender Equality Fund (GEF). The project is aimed at promoting gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches to TB care, by enhancing legal protections and amplifying the voices of vulnerable and marginalized populations affected by tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.