The federal government on Friday days 120 million Nigerians are at the Risk of contracting one neglected tropical disease or the other, as the country contribute significantly to Africa’s burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Speaking at a news conference to mark the 2022 international Day of NTDs, the director public health at the federal ministry of health, doctor Alex Okoh notes that Nigeria is the second country with the highest burden of neglected tropical disease in the world.
“Indeed it is of great concern that the country is faced with high burden of these diseases while we are still battling to control the incidence of COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that all citizens are well vaccinated. “
According to him, neglected tropical diseases affect more than 1 billion people across the globe, and Africa bears about half of the global burden.
Some of the commonest neglected tropical diseases include: Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease, Lymphatic, Onchocerciasis, Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) (i.e., Ascaris, Hookworm, and Whipworm, Trachoma and leprosy
The Government however gives assurances of its commitment to eradicating NTDs in the country
