24/03/2026
Today, as we mark World TB Day, we want to look beyond the word free in TB care.
Yes, treatment may be officially free. But for many households, TB still comes with a devastating cost.
A single episode of TB care can cost a household about $592 (₦828,800), and 79% of that cost comes from lost income and time. During treatment, working hours can drop sharply, jobs may be lost, and many families are forced to borrow money or sell assets just to survive.
The impact does not stop there. When adults can no longer work, children may step in. In affected households, TB contributes to school dropout and deeper poverty.
This is the medical poverty trap of TB: illness reduces income, poverty makes recovery harder, and families carry the burden long after treatment begins.
If we are serious about ending TB, we must go beyond drugs alone. We need social protection, nutrition support, transport support, and people-centred policies that protect households from financial collapse.
Because no one should have to choose between getting well and staying afloat.
