Over 100 million persons in Nigeria are at risk of one or more of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Federal Government has said.
Globally, over 1.5 billion people are affected by at least one NTD.
Health Minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire addressed reporters on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of this years’ World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) day with theme: Beat NTDs: For Good; For All.
He explained that NTDS are old diseases that prevail in poor countries and that they have been almost totally eliminated in developed countries.
He said: “Nigeria’s large population makes it a prominent endemic country for NTDs in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 100 million persons at risk of one or more of the neglected tropical diseases in all 36 states and the FCT.
“Most of the affected people live in locations under poor conditions with limited or no access to education and healthcare services and amenities, like portable water, sanitation or knowledge of hygiene. NTDs can result in blindness, deafness, in various forms of physical disabilities and disfigurement.
“NTDs are diverse groups of communicable diseases in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. These diseases are singled out because of their adverse impact, relative obscurity, and the availability of tools to combat them. They are usually often an overlooked cause of misery.
“People afflicted by these diseases are usually poor, vulnerable and left on their own to face the debilitating consequences of the NTDs. There are over 20 of these diseases – blinding trachoma, buruli ulcer, guinea worm, endemic treponematoses, sleeping sickness, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Onchocerciasis (river blindness), rabies, scabies, snakebite, among others.”
He added: “Child NTDs-sufferers shy away from attending school, grow up with no skills and are hindered in basic occupation, like farming and fishing, or any avenue of earning a living. They are thus trapped in a cycle of diseases and poverty.
“NTDs and poverty are, therefore, so interlinked that fighting NTDs has direct benefit on productivity and ability of citizens to contribute to the nation’s GDP. Therefore, NTD elimination also eliminates poverty.