22 million Nigerians infected with neglected diseases, Experts say

Twenty-two million Nigerians representing one out of two persons are infected with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria. The National Neglected Tropical Diseases  (NTDs) Coordinator, Dr. Anyaike Chukwuma, stated this yesterday  during a workshop by the  United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) in conjunction with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of […]

Twenty-two million Nigerians representing one out of two persons are infected with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria.

The National Neglected Tropical Diseases  (NTDs) Coordinator, Dr. Anyaike Chukwuma, stated this yesterday  during a workshop by the  United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) in conjunction with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Health.

He said Nigeria also contributed 40% to the global burden of NTDs, adding that all eyes are on Nigeria in this area.

According to him, it is called neglected diseases because attention is not paid to curbing them, and because it is not the diseases of the bourgeois but affects mainly the poor in rural communities and urban slums.

“Neglected Tropical Diseases don’t kill fast like Ebola, COVID, and other deadly diseases. The government would have swung into action but we must understand that it comes with lots of disabilities and it results in loss of the developmental process of any nation. It is present in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

He said there are over 20 NTDs globally but Nigeria is affected by 12 of them.

UNICEF specialist, Mr. Bioye Ogunjobi, said 774 local government areas are endemic when it comes to NTDs. And that 583 LGAs are affected by Lymphatic Filariasis, 481 affected by Onchocerciasis, 429 affected by Soil Transmission Helminthiasis and 582 affected by Schistosomiasis, adding that some LGAs are affected by two or more NTDs.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who was represented by the head, CRIB, Federal Ministry of Information, Mercy Megwa, said, government was working out modalities that would help in the control, elimination and eradication of NTDs in the country.

According to him, Neglected Tropical Diseases are communicable diseases such as leprosy, Guinea worm, rabies associated with poverty and commonly found in rural communities with unsafe water sources, substandard housing conditions, and poor hygiene.

“It calls for concern due to the huge burden of NTDs in the country despite the fact that Nigeria has been certified Guinea worm-free. These diseases are very dangerous because they can cause unproductivity and affect children’s intellectual development and growth,” he said.