As Nigeria joins the worldwide community in commemorating 2025 World NTD Day, Dr. Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has urged for more budgetary allocations and stronger partnerships to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the country.
The minister, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, emphasized the importance of increased collaboration and investment in combating NTDs, which affect over 200 million Nigerians and are directly linked to poverty, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access.
“Nigeria accounts for 25% of Africa’s NTD cases, with 165 million people needing preventive therapy. “These figures highlight the urgent need for targeted funding and effective partnerships to eradicate these diseases,” Dr. Salako stated.
The minister listed the government’s accomplishments, which included the eradication of Guinea Worm, the abolition of Onchocerciasis in two states, and considerable progress in lowering trachoma and lymphatic filariasis throughout the country. He did, however, stress that considerable work needed to be done to fulfill the 2030 worldwide targets established by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) NTD Roadmap.
Dr. Salako emphasized that eliminating NTDs required long-term financial commitment from both the government and the private sector. He advised state governments to allocate enough budgetary money for NTD programs and link them with other healthcare initiatives in order to maximize resources.
“The fight against NTDs is not solely a federal task. States must take action by mobilizing domestic resources, assuring budgetary support, and prioritizing NTD initiatives in their healthcare plans,” he stressed.
The minister also emphasized the importance of collaboration, applauding the efforts of development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, USAID, and private organizations in assisting Nigeria’s NTD programs.
Abdulazeez Musa, Country Director of CBM Global Nigeria, also spoke at the occasion and underlined the transformative role of partnerships in combating NTDs. He emphasized CBM Global’s partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to incorporate mental health treatment into NTD programs and adopt person-centered disease management strategies.
“NTDs are more than just a health concern; they are also a social justice problem. Addressing them requires cross-sector collaboration to build inclusive health systems that emphasize the most disadvantaged populations,” Musa said.
He emphasized the importance of innovative and sustainable financing in ensuring equal healthcare and made known the gain of acting promptly and collaboratively to achieve the elimination targets.
