By Peter Xlaver
Out of the about 1.7 billion people affected globally by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Nigeria contributes about 50 percent to its burden in Africa and 25 percent globally, the National Coordinator of NTDs in the Federal Ministry of Health, Fatai Oyediran, has said.
He also said the Federal Government is considering the use of drones for the distribution of drugs in the North East which had been gripped by banditry, kidnapping and other crimes as a measure to tackle the 21 NTDs in Nigeria.
Oyediran stated these in his presentation by the Programme Manager, Snakebite Envenoming, NTDs Division in the Ministry of Health, Adebayo Peters at the 6th edition of the global celebration of the NTDs Day declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with a mandate to wipe it out in 2030.
With the theme, ‘Unite, Act and Eliminate NTDs as a Catalyst for Global Health and Sustainable Development’, the event brought together experts to strengthen the commitment to ending the communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Oyediran said, “Over 100 million (two of every three Nigerians) are infected by or at risk of one or more NTDs. It is expected that with investment of ($18,785,902) for five years, Nigeria will achieve elimination of blinding trachoma, (100 percent); 22 States endemic for Onchocerciasis will no longer need treatment.”
The Technical Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, SWAP Coordinating Office, Zaiyanatu Abubakar Umar, said ending the scourge of NTDs is a collective responsibility.
She said, “The Collaborative Action Strategy (CAS) is meant to shift ways of working amongst global, regional, and country level partners on key actions, roles, and coordinated approaches at country level. It is designed to add practical but transformative value to Nigeria’s existing health campaigns and health care efforts including dealing with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).
“The strategy seeks to guide partners toward a future state where programs collaborate effectively with each other and with corresponding health services to maximize the impact of campaigns on health outcomes, and ultimately aims to catalyze stronger, more resilient country-led health systems in the long term.”
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, expressed optimism that the NTDs would be a thing of the past in Nigeria by 2030.
“The 2021–2030 WHO NTDs Roadmap provides ambitious targets and innovative approaches. Nigeria remains committed to its implementation, focusing on accountability, multi-sectoral integration, and political commitment to ensure sustainability. The fight against NTDs is crucial to achieving Universal Health Coverage, Sustainable Development Goal Three and eradicating poverty”, he said.
The Country Director of Helen Keller International and Chair, Governmental Development Organisations (NGDOs), Aliyu Mohammed, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to deepen its support in helping Nigeria eliminate leprosy and other NTDs by 2030
He said, “We have been partnering with the government to tackle these issues, and we are stretching our collaboration to ensure we eliminate all phases of leprosy and other NTDs as part of the broader fight against national poverty.”
The UNICEF NTDs National Consultant, Hilary Adie highlighted the critical role of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in combating diseases including NTDs.
“Thank you to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian government for providing a Clean Nigeria Campaign office to ensure communities become open-defecation-free.”
The Country Director CBM Global, Abdulazeez Musa, emphasized the need for sustainable funding, innovative solutions, and a commitment to equitable healthcare for all.
“To act now means recognizing that time is of the essence. Delayed action leads to lost lives, diminished livelihoods, and prolonged suffering”, Musa said
The National President of IDEA Nigeria, Peter Iorkighir, however, regretted that even though leprosy was curable, thousands of Nigerians remain untreated due to unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.
He called for urgent measures to address the prolonged unavailability of life-saving Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) medications in Nigeria, an act he described as a “human rights violation.”
