FG: 122 million Nigerians at risk of neglected topical diseases

About 122 million Nigerians are at risk of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Dr. Nseobong  Akpan, National Coordinator , NTD Elimination Programme , Federal Ministry of Health, has said.

He stated this Wednesday during a media dialogue on NTDs Control in Nigeria organized by UNICEF in collaboration  with the Child Rights Information Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

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He said, “It is estimated that 122 million persons, that is two out of every three Nigerians are at risk of one or more of these NTDS.”

He said of this number, 20 percent are pre-school age children , 28 percent school age children , and 52 percent adults.

He said NTDs are a group of 20 disease conditions that are common in tropical or sub-tropical regions, and are closely associated with poverty, poor sanitation, lack of safe water sources, substandard housing conditions and deficient healthcare access

Dr Akpan said the diseases are called ‘neglected’ because they tend to affect the world’s poorest, and received less attention than other diseases.

“it is more common among those who live in slums especially overcrowded households, and poor and dirty environment.”

He added that NTDs cause end organ damages due to chronic infection, causes poor educational outcomes, low productivity and negatively impact economic growth, among others.

While saying that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)  programme  is one of the key ways of  managing the disease, he reiterated the need for government at all levels to improve funding as well as budgetary releases for NTDs.

Dr Aliyu Suleiman, Focal Person for NTDs, World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria office, said Nigeria contributes about 40% of the burden of NTD in Africa.

He said WHO is primarily concerned with donation of medicine for the control and elimination of   NTDS in the country.

“The roles Nigeria can play in protecting themselves against the neglected tropical diseases primarily is taking the medicines when it gets to them for prevention. Secondly, to go to the hospital for treatment for those who have symptoms of the disease . We also advocate that there should be water , sanitation and hygiene programmes in place among other prevention practices for the diseases,” he said.

Bioye Ogunjobi, WASH Specialist, UNICEF   said the organisation has been supporting elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease since 1991 and supports Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis control interventions in 12 states.

The 12 Neglected Tropical Diseases  targeted for control and elimination in Nigeria are Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis, Trachoma Onchocerciasis ( River blindness), and trachoma.

Others are soil transmitted helminthes, Lymphatic Filariasis ( elephantiasis )  and schistosomiasis , Snakebite Envenoming, Rabies, Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), and Guinea-worm Disease (eliminated).