The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, has lamented that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) persist largely because they affect “neglected people” living in rural and underserved communities.
Speaking at a high-level engagement meeting with state health commissioners and development partners in Abuja, Prof. Pate said that while Nigeria has made significant progress in the fight against NTDs, more must be done to sustain the gains and ensure fairness in healthcare delivery.
“They are called neglected tropical diseases, but in reality, they are diseases of neglected people. If many people in Abuja had these diseases, you would see a completely different level of attention. But because they affect the poor and those in rural areas, they remain on the margins of our national concern,” he said.
The Minister highlighted major achievements recorded through joint federal, state, and partner interventions, noting that the results demonstrate Nigeria’s growing capacity to tackle public health challenges.
“Over 11.3 million people have received ivermectin treatment across 10 transmission zones. Almost 40 million people in 20 states and the FCT no longer require treatment for certain NTDs due to reduced prevalence, while trachoma cases have dropped by 84 percent. Two states have achieved elimination, and 20 others are on track to eliminate onchocerciasis by 2027.”
Pate said these outcomes were possible due to stronger coordination and collaboration across all tiers of government and development partners.
“The coalition forged among ministries, civil society, and international agencies has yielded results. However, we must now prepare for a future of reduced donor funding and begin to strengthen domestic financing. The era of heavy external inflows is coming to an end. We must rely on our own systems and resources.”
He also warned against what he called “sialitis and fragmentiosis”—the culture of working in silos and fragmentation across the health sector—which he said undermines impact and wastes resources.
“There’s too much duplication and inefficiency. People are rowing in different directions,” he cautioned. “Those focusing on HIV must recognize that TB and malaria matter. Those tackling NTDs must also care about maternal and child health, immunization, and nutrition. Our people are not fragmented; our systems are.”
The Minister urged closer collaboration between the federal and state governments, emphasizing that Nigeria’s health reform agenda depends on shared accountability.
“We must tell our story credibly with data that reflects our reality. We are negotiating with partners who want to help us, but the long-term goal is self-reliance.”
Representing the Chairman of the Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, who also serves as the Commissioner for Health in Kwara State, highlighted the critical role of political will and community engagement in achieving results.
“In Kwara, we’ve been fortunate to have a health-loving governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whose investment in public health has made the mass administration of medicines for NTDs highly successful. We’ve interrupted the transmission of river blindness and recently eliminated lymphatic filariasis in the state.”
Dr. El-Imam noted that cooperation among states remains vital, saying, “No state can win unless every state wins. Diseases don’t respect borders or political affiliations.
That’s why Commissioners for Health work together, review progress, and share strategies through the Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum, with consistent support from the Federal Ministry of Health.”
