The Minister of Health, Osage Ehanire has said that about 122 million Nigerians are at risk of contracting Lymphatic Filariasis, one of the Neglected Tropical diseases (NTDs).
Lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like warms residual at the lymph of the human system causing feet to over swell up.
The Minister said Nigeria accounts for about 25 percent of confirmed NTDs in Africa.
He said NTDs are prevalent in isolated communities of developing countries with track records of poor sanitation, nutrition and unsafe drinking water and illiteracy.
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WHO yesterday released a new progress report, entitled ‘Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023’ which showed that the number of people requiring NTD interventions fell by 80 million between 2020 and 2021, with eight countries were certified or validated as having eliminated one NTD in 2022 alone.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said around the world, millions of people had been liberated from the burden of neglected tropical diseases “which keep people trapped in cycles of poverty and stigma.”
