The National Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Fatai Oyediran, revealed on Thursday that approximately $19 million is needed to effectively address NTDs in Nigeria.
Oyediran made the announcement on the second day of a high-level advocacy meeting with health commissioners from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. He emphasized that with the right investment, these diseases could be controlled and even eradicated in the country.
“Nigeria requires around $19 million to tackle NTDs effectively. In 2023, we developed an NTDs master plan to guide our efforts through 2027, and this is the exact funding needed for success,” he said.
He also called for a collaborative approach to mobilize resources and strategically implement the plan. “Once this is done, I am confident that NTDs will no longer be a challenge in Nigeria,” he added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NTDs are a diverse group of conditions caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins.
These diseases have severe health, social, and economic impacts, particularly in impoverished communities in tropical regions, although some affect broader areas.
WHO estimates that NTDs affect over a billion people globally, with 1.6 billion individuals requiring interventions, both preventive and curative.
NTDs include diseases such as elephantiasis, river blindness, trachoma, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and snakebites, among others. Statistics show that Nigeria contributes about 50% of Africa’s NTD burden and 25% of the global burden.
Oyediran identified inadequate funding as a key obstacle in the fight against NTDs in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of a coordinated effort involving strong political will and support from all levels of government. “Inadequate funding has been a major challenge.
There are 21 diseases under the NTD category, each with its own unique challenges. Sufficient funding is essential for the effective implementation of strategies to control them,” he said.
He further urged both federal and state governments to allocate dedicated budgets for NTDs, noting that many states currently lack such provisions. “This is why we are engaging health commissioners today.
They are tasked with communicating with their governors and budget ministries to create a specific budget line for NTDs,” Oyediran explained.
Stuart Halford, Director of Advocacy and Resource Mobilization at United to Combat NTDs, reiterated the need for adequate funding to combat these diseases, highlighting their economic and productivity losses.
“While there are numerous health priorities, eliminating NTDs is crucial as they significantly impact economic growth,” Halford said.
In his address, Prof. Enoch Uche, the Abia State Commissioner for Health, shared that the state is dealing with four endemic NTDs: onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and schistosomiasis.
He explained that the state began mass drug administration in 2012 as a preventive measure, which continued for ten years. “In 2022, Abia was certified to have broken the transmission of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis,” Uche said.
Kwara State’s Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, also spoke on her state’s efforts to combat NTDs. El-Imam, who serves as Secretary of the Nigeria Health Commissioner Forum, stated that Kwara has successfully eradicated lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.
“NTDs have long been neglected due to insufficient attention and funding. If we do not refocus our efforts, eradication will remain out of reach,” she concluded.
