The Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN) has called for a strategic overhaul of the country’s approach to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), urging stakeholders to secure total elimination by 2030.
Dr. Tajudeen Uthman, Chairman of the PPSN Communication Committee, issued the call today in commemoration of the 2026 World NTD Day, stressing that sustained domestic funding and decisive policy action are now critical to overcoming the public health challenge.
He noted that the 2026 theme, “Unite. Act. Eliminate.”, aligns with Nigeria’s National NTD Master Plan and Elimination Roadmap, and that while progress has been made, the “last mile” of drug delivery remains a significant hurdle.
He stressed that Nigeria currently holds the highest NTD burden in Africa, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that over 100 million people are at risk. More than 15 of the 20 WHO-recognized diseases—including lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), and soil-transmitted helminthiasis—are endemic in the country.
To accelerate current gains, Dr. Uthman emphasized the need to integrate NTD interventions directly into primary healthcare systems rather than treating them as isolated programs.
While reiterating PPSN’s commitment to supporting this vision through advanced operational research and the continuous training of health workers to meet the 2030 global deadline, Dr. Uthman called on the private sector, academia, and the media to recommit to the national agenda.
