Enugu Targets Elimination of NTDs in Rural Communities

The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in rural communities within the next few years, describing the effort as key to lifting residents out of poverty and improving productivity.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, stated this in Enugu on Thursday during activities to mark the 2026 World NTD Day, which included public sensitisation campaigns and roadshows across the state.

Ugwu said the government would consolidate on what he described as the state’s “hard-earned progress” in tackling NTDs through sustained advocacy, investments and partnerships.

He noted that Enugu aligns with the 2026 theme, “Unite, Act, Eliminate,” as part of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to him, the state is intensifying clinical interventions and disease surveillance, working with partners and research institutions to ensure that eliminated diseases do not resurge.

He stressed that a healthy population is critical to Enugu’s economic ambition of growing its economy from about $4 billion to $30 billion.

Ugwu explained that NTDs comprise over 20 diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, many of which lead to chronic illness, disability, disfigurement and social stigma.

He said Enugu has been actively managing five NTDs and has successfully eliminated river blindness and sleeping sickness.

He added that mass preventive drugs and surgeries for some NTDs are provided free by the government in collaboration with partners, particularly the Carter Centre.

The commissioner also said the state and its 17 local government councils continue to prioritise Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects as a critical strategy for NTD control and elimination in rural areas.

Ugwu commended the Carter Centre for its long-standing support, capacity building and advocacy, which he said had strengthened the state’s NTD response and expanded access to free treatment and surgeries.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Carter Centre, Dr. Abel Eigene, praised the Enugu State Government for its sustained partnership, noting that it had enabled the Centre to effectively carry out its mandate in the state.

Eigene assured that the Centre would continue to work with the government and communities to ensure the complete elimination of NTDs in Enugu, calling for collective action to rid the state of the diseases and their socio-economic impact.