The Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), Southwest Zone, has warned that unsafe water remains a major driver of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria, insisting that drug-based interventions alone cannot achieve the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2030 elimination targets.
In a statement issued to mark the 2025 World Water Monitoring Day, observed annually on September 18, the Southwest Secretary of PPSN, Dr. Tajudeen Uthman, stressed that millions of Nigerians remain at risk of diseases such as schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and trachoma due to poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene, and contaminated water sources.
“The fight against NTDs cannot be won by medicines alone. We must complement drug distribution with sustained water monitoring, improved sanitation, and community-driven protection of water sources. By doing so, we break the cycle of infection and build healthier, more resilient communities,” Dr. Uthman said.
He noted that while preventive chemotherapy has significantly reduced disease burden, reinfection rates remain high in many communities because of the absence of clean and safe water.
The society, therefore, urged households, schools, community leaders, and policymakers to scale up investments in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and to make water quality monitoring a regular practice at local and regional levels.
It also called for stronger community education on safeguarding water resources.
According to PPSN, World Water Monitoring Day should serve as a reminder that access to safe water is not only a health need but also a weapon against poverty and preventable diseases.
“Together, we can accelerate progress towards a Nigeria and a world free from diseases that thrive on unsafe water,” the statement added.
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