The Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN) has urged the Federal and state governments, development partners and other stakeholders to intensify efforts towards eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria, in line with the country’s National Master Plan and Elimination Roadmap.
The call was made as Nigeria joined the global community to mark World NTD Day 2026, themed “Unite. Act. Eliminate.”
In a commemorative message, the Chairman of the PPSN Communication Committee, Dr Tajudeen Olusegun Uthman, said the global theme mirrors Nigeria’s strategy of coordinated action, effective implementation and sustainable disease elimination.
He noted that NTDs remain a major public health and development burden in the country, disproportionately affecting rural, underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
“Beyond their health impact, NTDs deepen poverty, worsen educational outcomes and reduce productivity. Their elimination is therefore central to national development and the attainment of universal health coverage,” Uthman said.
According to him, Nigeria’s progress so far has been driven largely by collaboration among federal and state ministries of health, local governments, research institutions, professional bodies, development partners, non-governmental organisations and community structures.
However, he stressed that sustaining and accelerating these gains would require stronger multisectoral coordination, increased domestic financing and deeper integration of NTD interventions into primary healthcare and broader development programmes.
Uthman explained that the call to “Act” under the 2026 theme underscores the urgency of translating strategies into impact through expanded preventive chemotherapy, improved disease surveillance and reporting, strengthened supply chains and last-mile drug delivery, as well as addressing cross-cutting challenges such as insecurity and climate change.
He added that prioritising operational research and continuous capacity building for health workers and programme managers was critical to delivering context-specific and sustainable solutions.
On elimination targets, the PPSN official said Nigeria remains committed to interrupting the transmission of priority NTDs through evidence-based, equitable and community-centred approaches.
“Community engagement, ownership and trust are at the heart of the national strategy. Sustainable elimination cannot be achieved without informed and empowered communities,” he said.
Uthman said the society would continue to support national and international efforts through research, advocacy, training and strategic communication, noting that effective communication was essential for sustaining political will, improving public awareness and strengthening accountability in NTD programmes.
To mark World NTD Day 2026, PPSN called on governments at all levels, development partners, academia, civil society organisations, the private sector and the media to recommit to Nigeria’s elimination goals.
The society stressed that translating plans into impact, investments into outcomes and partnerships into lasting solutions would be critical to achieving a Nigeria free from neglected tropical diseases.
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