The National Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Fatai Oyediran, has revealed that two out of every three Nigerians are afflicted with at least one Neglected Tropical Disease.
Dr. Oyediran shared this alarming statistic during a high-level advocacy meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, themed “Strengthening Efforts to Control and Eliminate NTDs in Nigeria.”
He noted that globally, approximately 1.7 billion people suffer from NTDs—more than three times the number impacted by HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
“These diseases are intrinsically linked to poverty, unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate housing, with women and children being the most vulnerable,” Oyediran explained.
He added that Nigeria bears a significant share of the global burden of NTDs, contributing nearly 50% of the cases in Africa and 25% worldwide. “Two out of every three Nigerians are living with at least one NTD,” he stated.
The World Health Organization describes NTDs as a collection of conditions caused by diverse pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
These diseases often lead to severe health, social, and economic consequences, disproportionately affecting impoverished communities in tropical regions.
Among the 1.6 billion people globally requiring intervention for NTDs, the diseases include river blindness, elephantiasis, trachoma, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, schistosomiasis, and snakebite envenoming, among others.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare,Dr. Iziaq Salako underscored the devastating effects of NTDs on marginalized populations in rural areas.
“These diseases cause immense physical suffering and contribute to social stigma and economic hardship, thus entrenching poverty,” Salako said.
He stressed the importance of building effective public health systems, emphasizing that prevention, health promotion, and the optimal use of limited resources are critical to tackling the challenges.
“With constrained budgets, limited infrastructure, and personnel shortages, it is essential to maximize the impact of every available resource,” Salako urged.
Mandate Secretary for the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe emphasized the importance of intensified advocacy in the fight against NTDs. She advocated for sustained awareness campaigns, community engagement, and robust stakeholder collaboration to mitigate the impact of these diseases.
“Combating NTDs requires a collective effort,” Fasawe said. “Only through enhanced advocacy and partnerships can we achieve meaningful progress in prevention and control.”
The meeting brought together commissioners of health from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, highlighting the need for integrated approaches to eliminate NTDs and improve public health outcomes.
