War Against Scourge Of Tropical Diseases

Nigeria has the highest burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) globally, with the country accounting for over a quarter of NTD cases. The nation’s NTD programme is being administered by the State Ministries of Health and the Local Government Authorities, with the Federal Ministry of Health providing supervisory functions. Other organisations like the Mission To Save the Helpless (MITOSATH), with funding from the TY Danjuma Foundation, has worked assiduously towards the elimination of the diseases through mass drug administration of medicines, advocacy and environmental management. Government’s incapacity to deliver Nigerians from the scourge of tropical diseases reflects the pathetic status of our nation’s poor healthcare system.   

Several Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are present in Taraba, with onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis as the most prevalent NTDs, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. The disease is prominent in 13 out of 16 LGAs, while lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) shows high prevalence in the same LGAs. Schistosomiasis prevalence varies across areas, with Donga, Gassol, and Kurmi LGAs reporting moderate prevalence.

Profitable partnership

When recently, the TY Danjuma Foundation undertook an overview of its partnership with MITOSATH on NTDs in Taraba State; the partnership was traced to 1996 that was anchored at combating tropical diseases, especially river blindness, that have persisted over many years and plagued the people with blindness. Tracing the workings of the partnership that has exterminated river blindness in Taraba, the Executive Director of MITOSATH, Dr Francisca Olujimi explained that her organisation’s partnership with the TY Danjuma Foundation has saved the sights of several thousands. Reviewing the successes of the partnership that has collaboration with Taraba and the Federal Ministry of Health, including international agencies, Olujimi disclosed that from 1996, Taraba received “over 20 effective rounds of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) with Ivermectin amounting to 27 million (27,777,528) cumulative treatments”.

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Linking the two epidemiological surveys of onchocerciasis were implemented in 2015 and 2023, with the 2015 results of the surveys described as good, Dr Olujimi declared that “Taraba has been liberated from the scourge of river blindness”.  The partnership is not resting on its oars as a comprehensive study was launched and implemented to assess gaps, barriers, and opportunities for NTD control and elimination in not only Taraba State but Nigeria.

Stakeholders’ solutions

Despite extermination river blindness in Taraba, the MITOSATH executive director said there are treatment gaps in Taraba due to drug shelf-life limitations, poor research funding hindering solutions, irregular drug distribution, poor data management, coupled with the absence of incentives affecting commitment, and inadequate mobility hindering distribution reach to tackle some of the key gaps.

Stakeholders present at the event, including Taraba’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Bodia Gbansheya Buma, and other representatives of organisations like World Health Organisation, called for intense advocacy that is aimed at promoting collaboration in order to prevent a rebound of river blindness. Pledging the state government’s commitment to collaborate critical stakeholders for Taraba to continue to be free of river blindness, Buma appreciated the TY Danjuma Foundation and other agencies involved in the campaign to rid not only Taraba but Nigeria of NTDs.

To sustain progress in controlling and eliminating tropical diseases by 2030, stakeholders called on states to domesticate the national NTDs plan to their local context this process and tailor strategies to local resources and needs, promote effective implementation, community engagement and sustainable control and elimination efforts in stamping out tropical diseases in Nigeria. The feat achieved by the TY Danjuma Foundation and MITOSATH, with active collaboration of the Taraba State Government and other agencies, in delivering the state from river blindness reflects that, with an irrevocable commitment towards a cause, nothing is unrealisable.

Sustaining the fight

The presentation of the principal investigator, Prof. Oladepo Oladimeji, who is of the African Regional Health Education Centre, University of Ibadan, dwells on findings on the gaps, barriers, and opportunities for NTD control and elimination in Taraba State but the entire country. That Taraba has achieved the feat of eliminating river blindness, the erudite researcher noted, that can also be replicated at the national level. The principal investigator called on states and the federal government not to rest on their oars until all states are rid of tropical diseases. All that is needed is the political will and the commitment of relevant stakeholders to carry through the determination in exterminating tropical diseases in Nigeria.

Having delivered from the debilitating scourge of river blindness, stakeholders at the event stressed the need for the Taraba State NTD Coordinator to provide maximum support and work closely with the Foundation, with MITOSATH, that is still engaged in the fight to eliminate NTDs in the state. Stakeholders also called on the Taraba State government to prioritise security so as to safeguard investments and ensure the safety of project personnel and local communities.

 Appreciating stakeholders for turning up, the TYD Foundation CEO, Mr. Gima H. Forje, commended stakeholders for sharing insights, adding that such insights would guide future actions and promote collaboration to address identified challenges. No doubt, partnership built on the common vision of rescuing citizens from the scourge of health challenges has become an inspiring engagement aimed at improving our healthcare system.