WorldStage Newsonline– The Federal Government has said that it will focus attention on millions of people with no access to prevention, treatment and care services of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to counter the social determinants of health.
Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, said this on Monday in Abuja during the commemoration of the World NTDs Day with theme: ‘Unite. Act. Eliminate.’
Salako said that the day was an opportunity to re-energise the momentum to end the suffering from these 21 diseases caused by a variety of pathogens, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins.
“We shall focus attention on millions of people with little or no access to prevention, treatment and care services to counter the social determinants of health.
“The roll out of the ten years NTDs road map for 2021 to 2030 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) sets ambitious targets and innovative approaches to tackle NTDs.
“It also provides a blueprint for global elimination,” he said.
Salako said that the significance of the day was to renew global and national awareness to address the magnitude of NTD problems.
According to him, the day will also provide opportunities for stakeholders to highlight the progress being made, challenges encountered and advocate support for prevention, control and elimination effort.
He said that in 2025 the government included Leprosy day as part of NTDs days, as a way of integration and collaboration.
He said that the theme was apt, adding that progress towards the 2030 targets must be kept on track with innovative and sustainable financing.
“Globally, more than one billion people (12.5 per cent of world population were affected with NTDs across 149 countries (76 per cent of all countries).
“Africa bears about half of the global burden, and Nigeria accounts for about 25 per cent of the cases in the continent,” he said.
The minister said that Nigeria had more than 200 million people at the risk of one NTDs or the other, and 165 million people needing preventive chemotherapy for at least one NTDs.
He said that the London declaration of 2013, which was followed by the Kigali Declaration of 2019 for the African continent committed, Nigeria to working ith other countries of the world to eliminate NTDs.
“This declaration focuses on eight points agenda which includes government commitment and accountability, integration of NTDs with other services and resource mmobilisation
” In addition to these declarations, the world Health Organisation has also produced an NTDs road map 2021 to 2030 as an ambitious blueprint for the elimination of NTDs globally,” Salako said.
In his speech, Mr Peter Terver, President, IDEA-Nigeria, the National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy, said that for over a year, critical Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) medications have been unavailable.
Terver said that act left more than 3,000 diagnosed individuals, including 800 children, without treatment.
He said that the delays were not just administrative failures, but a human rights violation.
According to him, bureaucratic bottlenecks, such as additional NAFDAC requirements and permit expirations, continue to block the supply of life-saving medicines.
” Despite our repeated appeals, no action has been taken.
“This neglect is reversing Nigeria’s progress in leprosy elimination, increasing disease transmission, and pushing affected individuals further into stigma and suffering,” he said.
Terver called on the government to immediately remove regulatory barriers preventing the supply of MDT.
He said that an uninterrupted flow of medications must be guaranteed to prevent further disabilities and suffering.
” Livelihood support and social inclusion programmes must be strengthened to end discrimination and empower affected persons.
“Leprosy is not just a medical condition, it is a social justice issue.
“The time for delays is over. We demand action now. Together, we can achieve a future of zero transmission, zero discrimination, and zero disability.,” he said
