Most Nigerians Unaware Of Neglected Tropical Diseases –Expert

The National Coordinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases, (FMoH), Dr Nseobong Akpan has expressed worry that most Nigerians unaware of NTDs while the diseases are endemic across the country.

In a chat with journalists on the sideline of a media dialogue organised United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Health on NTD control in Nigeria, Akpan said NTDs affect the poor mostly because of the unhygienic condition of living in the slums and rural areas.

He said more attention has been given to malaria, tuberculosis and HIV because of awareness and urged the media to do more in sensitising people about NTDs, saying that adequate awareness is a key strategy to eliminating the diseases in the country.

He said the Federal Government is doing a lot to eleminate NTDs and urged State and Local Governments in Nigeria as well as communities across the country to lend their supports by contributing to the efforts, particularly in the aspect of Water Sanitation And Hygiene (WASH).

UNICEF Communication Specialist, Dr Geoffrey Njoku also urged journalists to do more in sensitising people about NTDs and the danger it poses to human life.

UNICEF WASH Specialist, Dr Bioye Ogunjobi said UNICEF is funding mass administration of medicine to those affected by NTDs and also monitoring how the drugs are distributed and how those that recieved the drugs used them.

He said UNICEF is also supporting WASH NTD integration by facilitating save sanitation practices in endemic communities since most of the NTDs are (WASH) related.

“We want the media to create more awareness of NTDs and we want the policy makers to understand why they need to invest more in NTDs control interventions. In most of the states, NTD team does not have fund for any activity and we want this to change. Unless this changes, we might not be able to eliminate NTDs in Nigeria,” Ogunjobi stated.

Ogunjobi called on government at all levels to increase their investment on NTDs so that the diseases would be eliminate in the country.