The Bauchi State government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has significantly ramped up its efforts to eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) throughout the state. These diseases, which disproportionately affect impoverished communities, include a range of debilitating conditions such as schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis (manifesting as hydrocele and lymphoedema), trachoma, snakebite envenoming, noma, leprosy, Buruli ulcer, yaws/leishmaniasis, and rabies.

During a recent media dialogue focused on NTD Elimination in Bauchi State, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, highlighted the intricate link between poverty and ill-health, describing it as a detrimental cycle. She explained that poverty often leads to living in unclean environments with inadequate sanitation, which in turn increases vulnerability to various diseases. This cycle perpetuates itself as sick individuals are unable to work, thereby deepening their poverty. Dr. Rafique strongly urged journalists to intensify public education campaigns to foster behavioral change, promote clean environments, ensure access to safe water, discourage open defecation, and advise against the use of polluted water sources.

Dr. Rafique also acknowledged the substantial progress made in Bauchi and Gombe states, emphasizing that many NTDs can now be prevented through proper Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, reducing the need for repeated mass drug administration. She stressed the importance of sustaining and strengthening Bauchi’s achievements through diligent sanitation practices, timely identification of new cases, and prompt treatment. Furthermore, she pointed out that preventing disease-carrying flies and mosquitoes can have a broader impact, reducing the incidence of other illnesses like malaria and diarrheal diseases, all of which are intrinsically linked to poor sanitation and water quality.

Haruna Barau Wakili, the Bauchi State Coordinator for NTDs at the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, expressed concern that the NTD sector in Bauchi had been largely overlooked for many years. However, he noted a significant milestone: the sector's inclusion in the state's 2026 budget, and advocated for measures to guarantee sustained funding for these crucial elimination efforts. He confirmed that 13 local government areas have been consistently distributing drugs annually, and while most LGAs are no longer categorized as high-risk, ongoing surveillance will be maintained to ensure that disease control targets are met. Mr. Wakili also called upon the state government to continue providing essential snakebite treatments.

Adding to these perspectives, Hauwa Abubakar, the North-East Zonal Coordinator for the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, underscored that NTDs are serious yet preventable and treatable conditions, primarily affecting rural populations living in poverty. She highlighted the indispensable role of the media in mobilizing communities, raising awareness, and encouraging positive behavioral changes. Ms. Abubakar concluded by stating, “NTDs are public health challenges that require focused preventive measures before they become widespread threats. We must intensify awareness campaigns, promote hygiene, and ensure access to clean water to protect our communities.”