Kwara State has achieved over 90 per cent therapeutic coverage on Neglected Tropical Diseases in endemic Local Government Areas, surpassing the national target and the World Health Organisation benchmark of 65 to 80 per cent.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed-El-Imam, made this known while speaking at an occasion to commemorate 2026 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, held in Ilorin on Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Press Secretary of the ministry, Saad Hamdalat, the commissioner was quoted saying the feat was possible through sustained mass drug administration campaigns across the 16 Local Government Areas in the state.

According to the statement, "The state Government had no doubt recorded a major milestone in public health with the successful interruption of the transmission of Neglected Tropical Diseases across the state's 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

"The World NTDs Day is marked globally every January 30 to draw attention to a group of preventable and treatable diseases that continue to affect millions of people, particularly those living in poverty, the statement reads.

She stated that the theme for this year's World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, "Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs," was timely and appropriate, as it calls on governments, international organisations, communities and individuals to take collective and decisive action towards eliminating the diseases.

"Neglected Tropical Diseases disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, limiting productivity and denying children the opportunity to reach their full potential.

"Neglected Tropical Diseases are silent afflictions such as soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.

"These diseases have plagued our communities for far too long, robbing families of productivity, children of bright futures, and our state of precious human potential", she said.

The commissioner added that the Community-Directed Treatment with Ivermectin programme for onchocerciasis was launched in the state in 1999 across the 16 LGAs, with intensified efforts in the last five years.

"As of today, we have successfully interrupted the transmission of onchocerciasis in all 16 LGAs of Kwara State. An entomological survey conducted captured over 3,000 black flies, the vector for onchocerciasis, and all tested negative for Onchocerca volvulus, the causative organism," she revealed.

The commissioner, therefore, reaffirmed the state government's commitment to sustaining the gains recorded and intensifying efforts towards the complete elimination of NTDs in Kwara.

Also speaking, the World Health Organisation Coordinator in Kwara State, Dr Emmanuel Eyitayo, lamented that about one billion people worldwide still live at risk of NTDs.

He, however, stressed that the diseases are preventable, treatable and increasingly within reach of elimination.

"By December 2025, 22 countries had eliminated at least one Neglected Tropical Disease, adding that Niger Republic became the first country in the African region to be verified by WHO for eliminating onchocerciasis," he said.

He assured that the organisation would continue to support global and local efforts aimed at eliminating NTDs.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the State NTDs Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Bamgboye said the annual commemoration was aimed at creating awareness about the debilitating effects of the diseases.

"NTDs remain under-researched and under-funded, receiving insufficient attention due to their nature," she said.

Bamgboye advised residents to avoid swimming in rivers and urged them to seek medical attention when necessary, assuring that effective drugs are available for treatment.

She listed some of the NTDs prevalent in the state to include: Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted helminths, Lymphatic filariasis and Onchocerciasis.