Last week (26-28 November 2024), Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare organised a high-level advocacy meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, themed ‘Strengthening efforts to control and eliminate NTDs in Nigeria.’
Key attendees included 29 of 36 Commissioners of Health in country, Directors in the Federal Ministry of Health, permanent secretaries of the State Ministries of Health, youth NTD advocates, and development partners working in the NTD space, all coming together to discuss committing resources towards addressing the burden of NTDs to ultimately eliminate these preventable and treatable diseases.
Why was this needed now?
Nigeria has the most significant NTD burden on the African continent, accounting for about 25% of Africa’s NTD cases.
The country currently faces a lack of dedicated, sustainable financing towards NTDs with the health issue not prioritised in Federal and State health budgets, hindering the countries’ efforts to eliminate these diseases, despite this burden.
The country also faces some wider challenges related to coordination between Federal and State Ministries of Health, and weak logistics to support vital Mass Drug Administration (MDA) across the six geopolitical regions.
A recent study by Deloitte, commissioned by the END Fund, also showed that Nigeria could gain approximately $19 billion in increased productivity if NTD elimination was achieved by 2030, so the imperative to bring the right stakeholders together to ensure that this can be achieved was high.
What was discussed?
Across the two days, it was fantastic to hear from officials at various levels on the importance of prioritising NTDs, and taking action to overcome challenges in country.
Dr. Isiaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, addressed the room early on and set out why NTDs should be a priority at all levels:
“NTDs remain one of the greatest public health challenges we face as a nation. These diseases not only cause significant physical suffering but also contribute to social stigma and economic hardship, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. It is therefore imperative that we continue to prioritise their elimination and ensure that no one is left behind in our efforts to improve public health.”
He also highlighted the need for both Federal and State Ministries of Health to allocate sufficient budgets for NTDs, noting that most states currently lack budgetary provisions for these diseases:
“This is one of the reasons we are engaging here today with health commissioners. They are expected to communicate with their governors and Ministries of Budget and Planning to establish a dedicated budget line for NTDs.”
Pictured above: Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, speaks at the Health Commissioners meeting in Abuja, Nigeria
The event also explored domestic resource mobilisation to support logistics and last-mile distribution of drugs for treating NTDs in the states.
The National Coordinator for NTDs, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Fatai Oyediran spoke on the finance gap in order for NTDs to be tackled in the country. He also noted that it is imperative for all partners to mobilise these resources and plan strategically to fully implement the master plan. He said:
“I confirm that Nigeria needs about $19 million to effectively tackle NTDs. We developed our NTDs master plan in 2023 to run through 2027, and that is exactly what we need to effectively combat NTDs. Once this is done, I’m confident that NTDs in Nigeria will become a thing of the past.”
Pictured above: National Coordinator for NTDs, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Fatai Oyediran speaks
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, also flagged the need for further attention to be put on NTDs with the resources to back this up. She said:
“There are many health challenges being tackled simultaneously. NTDs are so-called because they have not received appropriate attention and funding over the past years. Unless we refocus on them, we will not be able to achieve eradication as intended. Nigeria cannot afford to neglect NTDs and is assured that there are ongoing efforts to raise funds and channel locally available resources towards combating the diseases.”
Pictured above: Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, speaks
What was achieved?
At the end of the meeting, a joint communiqué was developed highlighting various resolutions reached during the meeting.
Collaboration and coordination between Federal and State Health Authorities in addressing NTDs in country was strengthened.
Within this communiqué, a resolution was also drafted to establish budget lines for NTDs in State Health budgets, a significant step towards ensuring domestic financing is secured to tackle these preventable and treatable diseases.
Given that this is the first ever meeting convening State Commissioners of Health on NTDs in the country, participants and other stakeholders present resolved to make the meeting an annual event. This serves as a positive way to build momentum in the fight against NTDs, ensuring that progress is made and resolutions are acted upon.
Uniting would like to thank the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Nigeria for their support in convening the meeting, as well as all participants for demonstrating their commitment towards tackling NTDs in Nigeria.
With continued prioritisation and investment, together we can unite, act and eliminate these diseases once and for all.
This event was also covered in:
- Independent Television & Radio -
- The Cable Nigeria - Neglected tropical diseases among Nigeria’s greatest public health challenges, says minister
- Voice of Nigeria - Nigerian Government Seeks Unified Action to Tackle Public Health Challenges
- The Punch Nigeria - Two in three Nigerians affected by NTDs
- Nigerian Tribune - FG seeks $19m to eliminate life-threatening neglected tropical diseases
- Premium Times Nigeria - Nigeria needs $19 million to tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases – Official
- Kiss FM - Daily News Bulletin
- We FM - Daily News Bulletin