By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has revealed that Nigeria is battling with 15 neglected tropical diseases out of the 20 identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ehanire on Tuesday in Port Harcourt said that some of the diseases are Trachoma, (Granular Conjunctivitis), Onchocerciasis, (River blindness) Lymphatic Filariasis, (Elephantiasis) helminthiasis, soil-transmitted, schistosomiasis, (parasitic worms) and leprosy, snakebites Yaws Rabies, Buruli ulcer, Leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis, HAT, among others.
The Minister speaking at a Two-Day Media Dialogue on Neglected Tropical Disease Control in Nigeria” organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Child Rights Information, Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information, said that the diseases are so devastating that they leave their victims miserable.
Represented by the National Coordinator of NTDs, Dr. Nseobong Akpan, the minister lamented that when household diseases such as malaria, HIV and AIDs are mentioned, NTDs will not be there despite the fact they are common among the downtrodden.
“We have done enough about NTDs but they are still raging across communities in the country. There is a need to create awareness and for communities to be involved in efforts geared towards eliminating the diseases. We will be able to eliminate the diseases if everyone including the media join in crying out loud and support in efforts and commitment of stakeholders to achieve success in the elimination of NTDs.”
Speaking on the 122 million Nigerians at risk, Vanguard quoted him as saying: “It is estimated that 122 million persons that are 2 out of every 3 Nigerians are at risk of one or more of the NTDs.
“Of the number, 20 per cent are pre-school. Age children, 28 per cent of school-age children between age 5 to 14 years and 52 per cent are adults 15 years and above.”
