The Debriche Health Development Centre (DHDC), a Nigerian youth-led health organisation, has received the 2025 Stop TB Partnership – Humana Community Award during the Union World Conference on Lung Health (WCLH 2025).

The conference, organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, is the world’s largest gathering of lung health professionals, bringing together experts, researchers, and advocates to advance global efforts against lung diseases.

The award recognises excellence, resilience, and innovation in community-led tuberculosis (TB) services, highlighting organisations that sustained life-saving TB care despite global funding challenges. The 2025 theme, “Keeping the Lights On and Providing Critical TB Services to People with TB,” celebrates continued service even amid resource shortages.

The honour was presented to Mrs. Deborah Ikeh, Executive Director of DHDC, by special guests including Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State TB Champion, and John Green, bestselling author and global TB advocate.

In her remarks, Mrs. Ikeh described the award as a national victory, crediting TB survivors, young volunteers, community members, and the leadership of Nigeria’s National TB, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) for their contributions. She emphasised that collaboration between government, civil society, and communities is key to sustaining impact:

“When government, civil society, communities, and survivors work together, we deliver impact far beyond funding. This is the power of collaboration, resilience, and the Naija spirit.”

Despite global funding constraints, DHDC has continued to deliver essential TB services, including community sensitisation, screening, diagnostic referral, psychosocial support, treatment adherence monitoring, youth- and women-led outreach, and digital monitoring through OneImpact Nigeria.

Global TB leaders, including Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, applauded DHDC’s people-centred approach, grassroots leadership, and innovative strategies in supporting people affected by TB across Nigeria.