Silent Threats, Stolen Childhoods: How Neglected Tropical Diseases Rob Nigerian Children of Their Future
Silent Threats, Stolen Childhoods: How Neglected Tropical Diseases Rob Nigerian Children of Their Future
By Auwal Ahmad Umar, Gombe
For millions of children across Nigeria, childhood is not a time of play or learning; it is a daily battle against diseases that hide in the shadows of poverty and poor sanitation. Neglected Tropical Diseases, a group of parasitic and bacterial infections, silently deform limbs, blind eyes, and stunt growth, leaving children chronically ill, excluded from school, and trapped in cycles of poverty. Experts warn that without urgent action, an entire generation could lose its chance at a healthy, productive life.
For children, the impact is particularly devastating. Frequent illness, malnutrition, and disability limit their ability to attend school, learn, and play. Many are forced into caregiving roles for blind or disabled family members, while others endure stigma and social exclusion. Recurring disease erodes not only the body but also the mind, trapping children in a cycle of illness, missed education, and poverty.
UNICEF has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s efforts to curb NTDs. Dr Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief of Bauchi Field Office, told journalists during a media dialogue with officials from the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that UNICEF began supporting onchocerciasis control in 1991, adding lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts in 2015. Today, UNICEF’s interventions span twelve states, including Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Gombe, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers.
Dr Rafique explained that these programmes combine community engagement, health system strengthening, mass drug administration, and hygiene promotion. “These efforts are critical not only for improving child health but also for securing the long-term development and prosperity of entire communities,” she said.
She highlighted the crucial role of journalists in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging families to participate in preventative and treatment programmes. “Awareness campaigns foster social inclusion, promote hygiene practices, and ensure children receive timely care. Dr Rafique added, “The media can play a transformative role by amplifying these messages.”
UNICEF’s chief also emphasised the economic potential of NTD elimination. She projected that Nigeria could gain an estimated $18.9 billion in productivity by 2030 if these diseases were eradicated. Beyond immediate health benefits, eliminating NTDs supports poverty reduction, improved nutrition, gender equality, and inclusive growth, reflecting several Sustainable Development Goals.
“Malnutrition often results when infected mothers cannot breastfeed, while children affected by NTDs struggle academically and face food insecurity. Children bear the heaviest burden,” she said.
Mrs Hauwa Abubakar from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reinforced this point, describing NTDs as diseases of inequality and neglect.
“Protecting children from NTDs ensures a healthier, more productive, and brighter future for Nigeria. While government leadership is crucial, she emphasises that every stakeholder should contribute to the permanent elimination of these diseases.
She said that the consequences of NTDs ripple far beyond health. Chronic illness and disability prevent children from attending school, diminish learning outcomes, and exacerbate social exclusion. Families face economic strain, and communities struggle with lost productivity, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequity.
Gombe State provides both hope and a reminder of the challenges ahead. More than 2.8 million residents across ten local government areas no longer require annual Mectizan treatment for onchocerciasis, which represents a substantial decrease in disease prevalence. The state has reached transmission breakpoints for both onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, with government counterpart funding supporting ongoing elimination activities.
Also speaking, Mrs Maryam Umar, Program Manager of Amen Health Care and Empowerment Foundation, highlighted that partnerships since 2015 have facilitated surgeries for hydrocele, hernia, and trachoma trichiasis, along with cancer screenings and entrepreneurship training for affected communities. “These interventions restore dignity, mobility, and economic independence, but we need much more investment and community awareness to sustain these gains,” she stated.
Our correspondent reports that, despite progress, challenges persist. Access to clean water and sanitation is limited in many areas, mass drug administration does not reach all populations, and gaps persist in funding and trained personnel.
Experts emphasise that government involvement is crucial, including setting aside money for eliminating NTDs, creating laws to encourage communities to avoid open defecation, improving health facilities, and sending qualified workers to local areas.
Behind the statistics are children like ten-year-old Fatima from rural Gombe, who often misses school due to recurrent fevers and fatigue caused by lymphatic filariasis. Twelve-year-old Aminu has become a guide for his visually impaired father, sacrificing his education and childhood. Their experiences mirror those of countless children across Nigeria, revealing the profound social, psychological, and economic consequences of NTDs.
Gombe’s integrated approach demonstrates what is possible when communities, governments, and partners collaborate by combining mass drug administration, hygiene promotion, medical surgeries, and economic empowerment. Sustaining and expanding these achievements depend on consistent government support, robust financing, and strong advocacy from civil society and the media.
The experts argue that sustained progress requires policymakers to establish dedicated budget lines for NTD elimination, release funds for water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, and continue providing counterparty funding to complement donor programs. LLegislators should enact laws that promote communities being free from open defecation. HHealth service providers should hire qualified staff and provide guidance on implementing these laws at both the state and local levels. PPlanning and finance agencies are urged to increase their budget allocations for both health interventions and WASH activities.
“The human cost of inaction is evident. FAtima’s missed schooldays result in lost learning opportunities, while Aminu sacrifices his childhood to help support his father. SSimilar stories are repeated across both rural and urban areas of Nigeria, illustrating the social and economic toll that NTDs inflict on families. MMalnourished and chronically ill children fall behind academically, struggle socially, and risk being excluded from community life. TThese burdens often continue into adulthood, perpetuating cycles of poverty, reduced productivity, and inequality.
Experts also stress that combating NTDs requires more than just medical solutions. Social interventions, community engagement, and education are essential components of addressing these issues. Mass drug administration, hygiene promotion, and medical care alone are insufficient if communities remain unaware, excluded, or poorly supported. Sustained advocacy and public awareness are necessary to encourage behavioural change and strengthen participation in preventive programmes.
Gombe State offers a blueprint for success. The combination of medical interventions, WASH initiatives, and economic empowerment demonstrates how effective a multi-faceted strategy can be. But gaps remain. Access to clean water is still limited in many rural communities, trained health personnel are insufficient, and not all children are reached through drug administration campaigns. Closing these gaps requires political will, sustained investment, and active community engagement.
The fight against NTDs is a moral, economic, and social imperative. Children deserve a childhood free from preventable illnesses, disabilities, and stigma. Each day that NTDs persist, children lose access to education, nutrition, and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. The required interventions are clear: investment in water and sanitation, accessible and competent health services, community education, mass drug administration, and sustained advocacy. What remains is the societal commitment to act decisively.
Nigeria possesses the necessary tools, knowledge, and experience. What is needed now is the collective resolve to ensure that children can grow up healthy, educated, and empowered, free from the heavy burden of neglected tropical diseases.
