The Federal Government has called on state governments to increase domestic funding for the control and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), warning that sustained local investment is critical to reducing dependence on donor support and achieving long-term public health goals across the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, who represented the Minister of State for Health, Salako made the call at a media conference ahead of the 2026 NTDs day celebration in Abuja.
The theme for the 2025 celebration is ”Unite, Act and Eliminate NTDs towards achievements of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).”
Salako said that the control and elimination of NTDs remained an important element in Nigeria’s drive towards attaining UHC by 2030, achieving a disease-free SDG, and eradicating poverty.
He, therefore, urged states to create budget lines to mobilise the needed domestic funding.
"The control and elimination of NTDs in Nigeria remains an important element in our drive towards the attainment of the UHC by 2030, the achievement of SDG three, as well as the eradication of poverty.
” States should ensure the creation of budget lines to mobilise the needed domestic funding and also integrate NTDs elimination activities with other disease entities to leverage the economies of scale in their states,” he stressed.
He cautioned against allowing NTDs to translate into neglected people, emphasising the need for inclusion in efforts aimed at addressing the burden of NTDs.
The minister noted that NTDs thrive in silence and neglect, calling for collective voice, action and determination to confront the challenge.
The Director and National Coordinator NTDs Unit, Department of Public Health, Mr Fatai Oyediran said NTDs affects mostly the rural poor and few urban centres caused by poor hygiene, ventilation, water sources and lack of access to health facility care.
Oyediran explained that the federal government has implemented strategies, which has enabled the country record progress in eliminating NTDs.
He however called for more support towards the elimination of Schistosomiasis (bilharzia); and other case management NTDs like snake bites, rabies, guinea worm.
He also encouraged citizens to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices and create more sensitisation to reduce the menace of NTDs.
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