Janet Ogundepo
A Professor of Public Health Parasitology, Chinyere Ukaga, has called for collective action from government, funding bodies, non-governmental organisations, researchers, healthcare personnel, and communities to eliminate neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria.
Ukaga, who is the pioneer Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance at Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State, made the call in commemoration of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, celebrated globally every January 30, noting that Nigeria is home to more than 92 per cent of all NTDs.
In an exclusive statement to mark the 2026 commemoration themed “Unite, Act, Eliminate,” with a focus on community engagement, the professor explained that NTDs comprise diverse groups of diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and other factors.
She identified bacterial NTDs to include leprosy, Buruli ulcer, trachoma, yaws, and noma, while fungal causes encompass mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis, and deep mycoses.
Ukaga listed parasitic NTDs as Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis, dracunculiasis, echinococcosis, trematodiases, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and soil-transmitted helminths, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and threadworms, as well as leishmaniasis and taeniasis/cysticercosis.
She added that viral NTDs include rabies, dengue, and chikungunya, while other causes comprise scabies, ectoparasitic infestations, snakebite, and podoconiosis.
The professor noted that NTDs are diseases of poverty that have not received priority attention or sufficient funding for treatment, control, and elimination over the years.
The parasitologist stated that multiple factors promote and sustain these diseases in Nigeria, noting that all bacterial and fungal NTDs occur in different parts of the country.
Ukaga revealed that these conditions are often not considered hospital-treatable ailments but as afflictions from curses, witchcraft, or projections, leading to delayed medical intervention.
“These are often not considered hospital-treatable ailments but as afflictions from curses, witchcraft, projections, et cetera, thus first subjected to local treatments and may be eventually brought to the attention of health officials at late stages of the respective diseases,” she stated.
The parasitology expert disclosed that all parasitic NTDs occur in Nigeria except Chagas disease, adding that leishmaniasis, previously thought to be absent, has recently been reported in different parts of the country.
She noted that while dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease, was eliminated in Nigeria, there are reports of the parasite in dogs in parts of the country.
On viral NTDs, Ukaga stated that only rabies has been reported in Nigeria amongst the three viral neglected tropical diseases.
She added that scabies, classified under other causes of NTDs, has spread beyond very poor populations to occur even amongst the elite.
The professor emphasised that the 2026 World NTD Day theme draws attention to the need for collaboration amongst stakeholders at all levels.
“The World NTD Day theme is very important as it draws attention to the need for all stakeholders, the government at all levels, the funding bodies, non-governmental development organisations, the academia, researchers, healthcare personnel, and community members, to join hands to tackle these diverse groups of diseases,” Ukaga stated.
She stressed that community involvement is key to the successful implementation of interventions, noting that engagement at all stages, from planning to implementation and monitoring, ensures early detection, proper treatment, and eventual elimination.
The expert cited the elimination of onchocerciasis in some parts of Nigeria as evidence of the effectiveness of community-driven strategies.
“This was the strategy used to achieve the elimination of onchocerciasis in some parts of the country,” she said.
Ukaga explained that involving communities brings focus to the need for capacity building and ensures that communities have an active voice in developing solutions.
She added that strengthening the role of people and respecting their ways of life fulfils the mandate to act while ensuring the sustainability needed to control and eliminate these diseases.
“Community involvement at all stages, from planning to implementation and monitoring stages of various control strategies, ensures early detection and proper treatment leading to eventual elimination. This was the strategy used to achieve the elimination of onchocerciasis in some parts of the country.
“Involving communities brings to focus the need to build capacity and ensure that communities have an active voice in developing solutions. By strengthening the role of people and respecting their ways of life, the mandate to act is fulfilled, and in addition, it guarantees the sustainability necessary for the control and definitive elimination of these diseases,” the public health parasitologist noted.
Ukaga called on all stakeholders to prioritise community engagement in the fight against neglected tropical diseases to achieve elimination.
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