Fatai Oyediran, the National Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has highlighted the urgent funding needs to tackle these diseases in the country, stating that approximately $19 million is required to address the challenges effectively. During a high-level advocacy meeting held in Abuja with health commissioners from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Oyediran underscored the critical importance of strategic investment in combating NTDs. Nigeria’s recent NTDs master plan, formulated in 2023 and designed to span the years until 2027, lays down a comprehensive approach to eradicate these conditions with the right allocations and collaborative efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies NTDs as a wide-ranging group of diseases caused by various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, imposing severe health, social, and economic burdens, particularly on impoverished communities in tropical regions. Despite the global prevalence of NTDs affecting more than a billion people, Nigeria is identified as a significant contributor, accounting for approximately 50 percent of Africa’s NTD burden and about 25 percent globally. The condition is dire, with an estimated 1.6 billion people requiring either preventive or curative interventions to manage these diseases, which range from elephantiasis to river blindness.
Oyediran pinpointed inadequate funding as a crucial barrier to addressing NTDs effectively in Nigeria. The persistence of this issue has underscored the necessity for strong political will and concerted action across all tiers of government. He noted that there are 21 different diseases lumped under the NTD umbrella, each with unique characteristics and treatment requirements; thus, securing targeted funding is essential for executing comprehensive control strategies. Currently, many states lack appropriate budget allocations for these diseases, which hampers efforts to combat them effectively. As part of the advocacy efforts, Oyediran emphasized the importance of communicating the necessity of dedicated budget lines for NTDs to governors and planning ministries.
Stuart Halford, the Director of Advocacy and Resource Mobilization at United to Combat NTDs, rallied support for enhanced funding, acknowledging that while other health priorities exist, the elimination of NTDs must remain a focus due to their direct impact on economic productivity and overall health outcomes. This recognition of the interconnection between health and economic performance places urgency on addressing these diseases within national health agendas. The advocacy meeting serves as a critical platform for uniting stakeholders in a common goal of mobilizing resources for NTD management.
The reflections from various state commissioners during the meeting illustrated the complexities of managing NTDs. For instance, Abia State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Uche, brought attention to the endemic NTDs present in his state, including onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Through extensive mapping and preventive drug distribution campaigns conducted over a decade, Abia State has achieved significant milestones, such as breaking the transmission of certain NTDs. This highlights the potential effectiveness of robust data-driven strategies and community engagement in tackling NTDs within local contexts.
Similarly, Kwara State’s Health Commissioner, Amina El-Imam, shared her state’s progress in combating NTDs, reporting success in eradicating lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. However, she cautioned that the ongoing health challenges and years of neglect towards NTDs necessitate renewed focus and resource allocation to achieve full eradication. El-Imam’s comments reflect the broader sentiment among health officials that without a concerted recall of attention and a realignment of resources, Nigeria risks undermining the substantial progress made in alleviating the burden of NTDs across its vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the collective call to action from health leaders paints a hopeful yet urgent picture of the need to mobilize resources, implement strategic health plans, and prioritize funding to eradicate neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria.
