By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Kwara Government has recorded success in interupting transmission of Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) across the 16 LGAs.
In her opening remarks, Dr Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health stated this on Friday in Ilorin during her opening address at the commemoration of the World Neglected Tropical Disease Day 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that every Jan. 30, the world marks World NTDs Day, in order to highlight on a group of preventable and treatable diseases that continue to affect millions of people, particularly those living in conditions of poverty.
The theme for the 2026 NTDs Day is entitled : “Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs.”
The commissioner described the theme as apt, saying that the theme calls on all governments, international organizations, local communities, and individuals to come together and take decisive actions to eliminate these debilitating diseases.
According to her, the diseases affect millions of people worldwide, especially those in vulnerable and underserved communities.
“Neglected Tropical Diseases are silent afflictions such as Soil transmitted Helminths, Schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis.
“The disease have plagued our communities for far too long, robbing families of productivity, children of bright futures, and our state of precious human potential,” she said.
El-Imam explained that through relentless mass drug administration campaigns, the state achieved over 90 percent therapeutic coverage in endemic local governments, surpassing national targets and WHO benchmarks of 65 to 80 percent.
“For Onchocerciasis, we launched the Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin(CDTI) program in 1999 in the 16 LGAs.
“Our efforts were redoubled about five years ago, and as of today, we have successfully interrupted the transmission of Onchocerciasis in the 16 LGAs of Kwara State.
“We conducted an entomological survey, where we caught over 3,000 black flies (vector for onchocerciasis), and all tested negative for Onchocerca volvulus, the causative organism of Onchocerciasis,” she said.
El-Imam reiterated the resolve of the state government to continue to strive in the elimination of NTDs across the state.
Also speaking, the Kwara Coordinator of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Emmanuel Eyitayo lamented that about 1 billion people world wide still live at risk of NTDs.
He however pointed out that the disease is preventable, treatable and increasingly within reach of elimination.
Eyitayo disclosed that by Dec. 2025, about 22 countries had eliminated at least one NTD, adding that Niger Republic bece the first country in African region verified by WHO for eliminating Onchocerciasis.
He noted that Organisation will continue to support in the global efforts in eliminating NTDs.
Earlier in her welcoming address, Mrs Christiana Bamgboye, the NTDs Kwara Coordinator the day is to create awareness about the debilitating effect of the disease.
“The diseases are under researched and under funded and are not giving the needed attention due to their nature,” she lamented.
Bamgboye warned people against swimming inside rivers, while also appealing for them to seek for medical attention, saying that drugs are available for treatment.
She listed some of the diseases to include Trachoma, Schistosomiasis, Soil-Transmitted Helminths, Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis.
