FG Plans Multisectoral Approach To Tackle Neglected Tropics

The federal government has announced it has planned a multisectoral approach to address neglected tropical diseases for millions of people who have little or no access to prevention, treatment and care of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Health Minister Dr Osagie Ehanire announced in his speech at the commemoration of the 4th World NTDs Ministerial Press Briefing that this would be achieved with the rollout of the 10-year NTDs Roadmap (2021 to 2030) by the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed ambitious goals and innovative approaches to address NTDs and provide a blueprint and direction for global elimination.

Ehanire said, “The plan is an integrated approach to program delivery, focusing on three approaches, such as moving from process to impact measurement for accountability; establishing an effective multi-sectoral approach and integration of NTDs, land responsibility and political commitment to sustainability”.

Ehanire further announced that Nigeria has revised its NTD Master Plan 2023 to 2027 launched today as he directed stakeholders to use the document as a guideline for achieving Nigeria’s goals.

“Nigeria supports efforts to engage other disease endemic countries, partners and stakeholders to contribute to the development of the “Kigali Statement on NTDs,” as evidence of our collective commitment to partnership for ownership of the strategic document, as in the WHO Roadmap”.

However, Ehanire revealed that substantial progress has been made over the past decade, evidenced by the eradication of Guinea worm disease in 2013, the elimination of onchocerciasis transmission in the states of Plateau and Nasarawa in 2019, with the immediate prospects of the states of Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara will be free from the disease. Nigeria will soon be left with fewer endemic states and more than 28 million people no longer needing treatment.

“Other achievements of the ministry include the epidemiological mapping of preventable NTDs in all 774 LGAs. Continued mass administration of drugs in school and community deworming programs”.

“Mass medication administration for lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis. 106 of 126 trachoma endemic LGAs discontinue treatment and reach elimination threshold, with 30 million individuals at risk of trachoma blindness reducing their risk to approximately 3.5 million”.

“The NTD program has helped 70% of the 200,000 individuals in backlog for trachoma surgery. Developed national policy and training manuals for snakebite management along with procurement of anti-snake venom (ASV) and anti-rabies vaccines and distributed to designated health facilities in all 6 geopolitical zones.”

“Case study on vultures conducted in 3 communities in Plateau and Nasarawa states and found more than 40 cases. Further investigations are ongoing in the states of Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi and Taraba.”

“The NTD program is now migrating from paper-based records management to an electronic reporting system using DHIS, and officers trained in using the LMIS tool to monitor the distribution and consumption of drugs and the adverse effects of those drugs reportable in accordance with the NAFDAC Pharmacotherapy Policy. – vigilance”.

“Strong collaboration to address sanitation and hygiene issues, with a focus on policies to end open defecation”.

The Minister further announced that the analysis of the WASH-NTD integration landscape is ready for desk review with existing studies, campaigns, national and sub-national plans for WASH and NTD; for gap analysis to bolster WASH and NTD efforts to date.”

“Despite modest results, NTDs has been on the back burner, with little or no focus on implementing plans to reduce poverty and improve patient well-being.”

“It is important to note that the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria will significantly contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and must be all hands on deck to achieve this.” He added.

Similarly, Health Minister Joseph Ekumankama said the government’s efforts to tackle these diseases are beginning to bear fruit as the burden of these diseases is drastically reduced in some states.

Ekumankama said he is optimistic that with the speed with which the government is tackling these diseases, the country will soon meet the global target of eliminating some of these diseases before the end of 2030.

He reiterated that the NTDs program needed strong sectoral collaboration and good innovative practices, especially in the area of ​​water and sanitary hygiene (WASH), while the case management component of NTDs should be effectively supported for implementation at all levels.

Also, the National Professional Officer, NTD, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Aliyu Suleiman said that by 2022, the country has conducted an assessment for lymphatic filariasis in 200 LGAs out of 583 endemic LGAs.

“As of today, we have less than 300 LGAs that need to be assessed before mass drug administration for this disease is halted,” he said.

Suleiman said the health organization is advocating for NTD stakeholders and the country to keep NTD services accessible through innovation, strengthen NTD integration, cross-sector collaborations and mainstreaming, for stronger land ownership and accountability, and invest sustainably in NTDs for the best return.

In his view, we ask that the country remains committed to the delivery of the 2021-2030 NTD roadmap, especially with the launch of the 2023-2027 master plan, to address funding and drug shortages and foster partnerships.