FG reaffirms 2030 NTDs elimination

By Dele Anofi and Haggai Daniel, Abuja

The federal government has reaffirmed its determination to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria by 2030, in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global roadmap for the decade.

Speaking at a High-Level Advocacy and Resource Mobilization meeting in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, said the country is scaling up domestic financing, improving coordination, and deepening partnerships to eradicate NTDs.

Reports indicate that an estimated 166 million Nigerians still require treatment for at least one NTD, underscoring the scale of the challenge despite notable progress.

Salako revealed that 3.5 million people across 109 Local Government Areas in 17 States no longer require mass drug administration for specific NTDs.

He attributed this milestone to collaboration among government agencies, donor partners, civil society, and institutions such as the Uniting to Combat NTDs coalition and the Global Fund.

While acknowledging that NTDs still receive limited attention within the broader health agenda, Salako said ongoing sector reforms, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, will sustain progress.

He also identified President Bola Tinubu’s Unlock Healthcare Value Chain initiative as key to improving access to locally manufactured medicines and consumables that support NTD treatment at the community level.

The Minister urged state governments to create and safeguard budget lines for NTD elimination and integrate their activities with other health programmes to maximize efficiency, while calling on stakeholders to increase public awareness and resource mobilization.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachollom Daju, described the meeting as a critical platform for driving leadership and financing at a time when NTDs continue to affect over 1.5 billion people globally, mostly among the poorest populations.

She warned that despite Nigeria’s progress, the withdrawal of key donor funding and shrinking domestic resources could reverse gains if not urgently addressed.

She called for stronger federal-state collaboration to integrate health programmes, reduce duplication, and ensure efficient use of available resources.

Daju also urged commissioners and permanent secretaries to take ownership of the fight against NTDs, sustain financing, and build resilient health systems capable of addressing both infectious and non-communicable diseases.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to reducing barriers to healthcare and achieving universal health coverage, stressing that effective NTD control contributes directly to poverty reduction and improved national productivity.

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Director of Resource Mobilization and Advocacy for Uniting to Combat NTDs, Stuart Halford, commended Nigeria’s leadership and progress in fighting NTDs but warned that “sustained funding and accountability are now the critical next steps.”

He said State commissioners have pledged to establish dedicated budget lines for NTDs, describing it as “the bedrock of sustainable progress in eliminating these debilitating diseases.”

Halford confirmed that the coalition is supporting Nigeria to expand domestic and international financing, including securing funding through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and mobilizing bilateral and multilateral assistance.

“We are working with the government to develop business cases to strengthen investment and mobilize resources,” he added.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Nigerian Health Commissioners’ Forum (NHCF), Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, reaffirmed subnational commitment to the NTD elimination drive, highlighting progress made in states such as Kwara.

She emphasised that while NTDs remain common in tropical regions, they are often overlooked, making continued visibility and sustained political will vital.

El-Imam cited Nigeria’s ongoing efforts against trachoma, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and lymphatic filariasis, among others, stressing that “These diseases are certainly not forgotten by the Commissioners’ Forum.”

She, however, noted that as Nigeria wins the battle against many infectious diseases, the growing burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, and hypertension calls for renewed focus.

She said finishing the fight against NTDs will free resources and capacity for tackling emerging health challenges, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader commitment to equitable and sustainable healthcare delivery.