With over 122 million Nigerians at risk of Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire on Tuesday lamented that the country was battling with 15 neglected tropical diseases out of the 20 identified by the World Health Organisation, WHO.

Some of the diseases are Trachoma, (Granular Conjunctivitis), Onchocerciasis, (River blindness) Lymphatic Filariasis, (Elephantiasis) helminthiasis, soil-transmitted, schistosomiasis, (parasitic worms) and leprosy, snakebites Yaws Rabies, Buruli ulcer, Leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis, HAT, among others.

Addressing journalists at a TWo-Day Media Dialogue on Neglected Tropical Disease Control in Nigeria”, holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Child Rights Information, Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information, Ehanire regretted that the diseases are so devastating that they leave their victims miserable.

Represented by the National Coordinator of NTDs, Dr. Nseobong Akpan, he lamented that when household diseases such as malaria, HIV and AIDs are mentioned, NTDs will not be there despite the fact they are common among the downtrodden.

“We have done enough about NTDs but they are still raging across communities in the country. There is a need to create awareness and for communities to be involved in efforts geared towards eliminating the diseases. We will be able to eliminate the diseases if everyone including the media join in crying out loud and support in efforts and commitment of stakeholders to achieve success in the elimination of NTDs.”

In his presentation as the National NTDs Coordinator entitled: “Overview of the Neglected Tropical Diseases”, Dr. Nseobong Akpan further decried the negative impact on the economy as economic development cannot occur without addressing these diseases.

Akpan also noted the significant impact on maternal, newborn, and child health.

“NTDs causes poor nutritional status, especially in children; Poor educational outcomes; Reduced physical and cognitive development -children cannot attend school; absorb lessons. Low productivity -Infected adults cannot work effectively -adults may stay home to care for infected family members.

Speaking on the 122 million Nigerians at risk, he said: “It is estimated that 122 million persons that are 2 out of every 3 Nigerians are at risk of one or more of the NTDs.

“Of the number, 20 per cent are pre-school. Age children, 28 per cent of school-age children between age 5 to 14 years and 52 per cent are adults 15 years and above.

On populations at risk in Nigeria, he explained that; 119.8 million people are at risk of lymphatic filariasis, 51.4 million people for onchocerciasis, 28.8 million school-age children and 20.5 million pre-school-age children for soil-transmitted hermits, 26.8 million people for trachoma and 23.8 million school-age children for schistosomiasis.

He appealed to journalists to create more awareness, sensitisation to attract community participation and ownership of the NTDs campaign.

Also in his presentation on Schistosomiasis, Deputy Director, Programme Manager, National Schistosomiasis Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Elimination Programme, Dr Obiageli Nebe disclosed that over 200 million people globally are infected.

She said over 700 million people are living at risk of infection and over 90 per cent of people live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nebe said it is a disease of low socio-economic status affecting the poorest communities and most neglected
vulnerable people.

“Infants, children are especially prone to infection due to their less developed immune system as worm infestation are passed through contaminated food, water or soil.”

Also speaking on UNICEF’s support to elimination of NTDs in Nigeria, UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr Bioye Ogunjobi said lack of political will and low awareness remained an obstacle to the elimination of NTDs in Nigeria.

Ogunjobi explained that the Nigerian NTDs programmes were mainly sponsored by partners, calling on the government to get more involved in the elimination process of these diseases.