Over 1000 youths integrated into fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Kwara

In commemoration of World NTD Day, Foot Impact – a nonprofit project-based organization – has successfully integrated over 1000 youth enthusiasts in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases in Kwara State.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Youth Integration in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Speaking at a one-day Youth in Health Conference, organized in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, held on Thursday January 30, 2025 at Peace Hotel in Ilorin, the State advocacy coordinator for Foot Impact, Daniel Jimoh said the purpose of the gathering was to extend advocacy efforts through the youths.

Daniel emphasized that the program had united over 1000 public health and Neglected Tropical Diseases youth enthusiasts in Nigeria, a milestone which he described as a historic and grand feat.

He noted that the conference aimed to integrate youths as catalysts for NTDs advocacy at various senatorial districts, including the grassroots, as well as sensitize them to become representatives of the organization wherever they are.

According to him, the organization (Foot Impact) rolls out community-based projects and focuses on solutions rather than problems.

“We roll out projects based on community needs. We are not focusing on diseases but on solutions,” he said, adding that, “In terms of advocacy, we focus on awareness creation and community engagement to sensitize local communities on how to claim ownership of interventions and be involved with the government.”

The state coordinator believes that the new generation, youths particularly, are the perfect choice for advocacy programs, acknowledging their strength, capacity and knowledge in executing advocacy programs in the local communities compared to the elderly ones who get tired easily.

“Youths emerging as NTD advocates have come to ensure that we can achieve the 2030 goal, which is to end NTD in Nigeria and in the global community,” Daniel stated.

The state coordinator called on governments at all levels to create an enabling environment, facilitate channels that make it easier for seamless collaboration activities between the organization and the government.

He said, “Sometimes, there are a lot of challenges and protocols that we have to follow to get collaborations with the government – although it is good – but then, we hope that the government will make us facilitate Channels that will make it quite easier when collaboration activities are to take place”.

The program, sponsored by ALMA and the Youth Combating NTDs, featured week-long activities, ranging from community outreach, secondary school outreach, and a pre-conference for about 60 participants.

Being the maiden edition in Kwara State, the program drew attendees from almost all the institutions in the State, including students from the Kwara State University, University of Ilorin, Al-Hikmah University, as well as representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health. Malaria and NTD clubs for secondary schools were also inaugurated.

About NTDs

NTDs are a diverse group of conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, where they thrive among people living in impoverished communities.

According to WHO, they are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, and are responsible for devastating health, social and economic consequences.

More people speak

In an interview with The Informant247, the NTD Program Officer in Kwara State, Olalekan Ajayi, expressed belief that the integration of youths into public health advocacy will help facilitate the process of globally eliminating or reducing the burdens of STDs by 2030.

Impressed by the massive turnout, Ajayi acknowledged the youths’ vast knowledge in social media management, which he said is a perfect medium to spread awareness on the implications of NTDs and ways to combat them, urging them to take a championship in the fight.

Appreciating the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq_led government’s interventions in the Kwara health sector, Ajayi underscored the need for more improvement, calling on the government to take ownership of all activities related to health programs in the state.

In his remarks, Afolayan Gabriel, NTD Program Officer from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stated that Nigeria has witnessed improvement in eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

He said, “We are rolling out drugs, especially to young people, to spark change and make it happen faster than ever before”.

He charged the participants to utilize the information and knowledge being passed onto them to contribute to efforts geared toward eliminating NTDs by 2030 and ensuring a safe environment for NTD advocacy to take place in their respective communities.

Also, the Kwara State Program Coordinator for the Control and Elimination of NTDs, Bamigboye Christiana Yemisi, expressed the belief that the youth’s inclusion in the NTD advocacy program will make the World Health Organization (WHO)’s target for the elimination of NTDs by 2030 a reality.

Participants react

In separate interviews with The Informant247, participants expected overwhelming excitement about the event which many of them confessed to have significantly enriched their knowledge of the neglected tropical diseases.

An excited participant, Jimoh Ibrahim from Kwara State University, appreciated the organizers of the event, saying it has extensively broadened his understanding of the NTD.

Another participant, Ishola Olawale Muhydeen, said his goal of attending the program to further enrich his knowledge of neglected tropical diseases was achieved.

He said, “I’m studying medical laboratory science, and I don’t want my scope of business to be just in the lab. I need more knowledge about research, and this program has given me more insight into it”.

Also speaking, Jedidiah, a medical student from the University of Ilorin, noted that the program has opened her eyes to the vast tapestry of Medicine and how she can contribute to efforts to combat the NTDs.

“I never knew anything about NTDs before. This is my first time learning about them. It was a nice concept. As I continue to advance in my medical journey, it’s going to help me a lot,” she concluded.