FG, partners intensify awareness campaign against neglected tropical diseases

The federal government, in collaboration with development partners and civil society organisations, has intensified public awareness efforts on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), warning Nigerians against ignoring illnesses that often progress silently but cause long-term physical, social, and economic damage.

The stakeholders called for increased funding, early case detection, consistent drug availability, and stronger grassroots engagement as Nigeria pushes toward eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

Nigeria carries one of the heaviest global burdens of NTDs.

The Head of Monitoring and Evaluation of the NTD Control Programme, Gambo Yakubu, disclosed that data from recent reports show that 583 of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas are endemic for lymphatic filariasis.

Yakubu said the scale of other NTDs remains equally troubling, with onchocerciasis or river blindness present in about 480 LGAs, schistosomiasis in 583 LGAs, soil-transmitted helminths in 424 LGAs, and trachoma affecting 133 LGAs nationwide.

“These diseases are called neglected because they don’t receive the attention they deserve, yet they are silently killing and disabling people, especially in tropical regions like Nigeria,” Yakubu said.

He spoke in Abuja during a public awareness walk held on Friday to mark the 2026 World NTDs Day, which took participants from Wuse Market to Utako.

The event drew health officials, development partners, civil society groups, persons affected by NTDs, and other stakeholders.

Citing Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), commonly known as elephantiasis, as an example, Chinwe Okoye, National Programme Manager for Lymphatic Filariasis at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the disease remains one of the most underestimated in Nigeria, despite its widespread impact.

She noted that about 119 million Nigerians are currently at risk of lymphatic filariasis, representing nearly half of the global burden and about a quarter of Africa’s cases.

Stressing that the scale of exposure makes public knowledge and early prevention critical, Okoye said, “When people hear that NTDs are neglected, they assume they are not important. But because they are neglected does not mean they are harmless.

“Lymphatic Filariasis can stay in your body for five to ten years, silently destroying the lymph cells, and the carrier won’t even know.”

According to her, World NTDs Day, observed annually, is designed to mobilise governments, communities, and partners around the global theme ‘Unite, Act and Eliminate’, with a focus on ending diseases that perpetuate disability, stigma, and poverty.

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Okoye further explained that LF is transmitted through mosquito bites and thrives in environments with poor sanitation and high mosquito density, conditions common in many parts of the country.

“The mosquito that bites you today can infect another person tomorrow. And we all know what mosquitoes are doing in Nigeria daily. That is why this disease must not be taken lightly,” she added.

On the consequences of delayed LF treatment, Okoye said visible symptoms such as swollen limbs and enlarged scrotum often appear only at advanced stages, when damage has already been done.

“Once the leg becomes that big, it cannot return to normal. That is why early prevention is critical. The shame, emotional trauma, and economic losses are enormous,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of development partners, Ms. Sarah Pantuvo of The Carter Center said the 2026 theme emphasises collective responsibility.

“Unite, Act, and Eliminate means decisive action, sustained funding, strong political will, and community ownership. Everyone has a role to play,” she said.

She disclosed that The Carter Center currently works in 10 States and has supported the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis in Plateau and Nasarawa States, making them the first states in Nigeria to achieve that milestone.

She emphasised that sustained, coordinated efforts and strong political will from both the government and development partners are essential to effectively combat neglected tropical diseases.

Meanwhile, Peter Teweyuki, President of AIDA Nigeria, an association of persons affected by leprosy, called for improved access to NTD medications and timely treatment.

“For the past two years, there have been challenges with the availability of leprosy drugs. When treatment is delayed, people develop disabilities, and that leads to stigma and discrimination,” he said.