Nigeria’s battle to eradicate Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness, remains an ongoing challenge. This Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) has proven resilient due to difficulties in controlling and eradicating the tsetse fly (Glossina genus), the disease’s primary vector. Despite significant efforts in mass treatment and awareness campaigns, the prevalence and burden of HAT remain significant, hovering below 10%.
Experts identify several factors that perpetuate the disease, including rural-urban migration, the inability to eliminate the disease in animals, and the impact of climate change. Nigeria faces two types of trypanosomiasis: Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Animal African trypanosomiasis (Nagana). Both forms are vector-borne parasitic diseases caused by protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted through the bites of infected tsetse flies.
Understanding Human African Trypanosomiasis
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes HAT as a vector-borne parasitic disease transmitted to humans by tsetse flies. The disease, known for disturbing the sleep cycle, occurs in 36 sub-Saharan African countries where tsetse flies are prevalent. It primarily affects people living in rural areas dependent on farming, fishing, and hunting for their livelihood.
Both human and animal trypanosomiasis are classified as NTDs due to their severe health, social, and economic consequences. NTDs affect over 1 billion people globally, with complex epidemiology often linked to environmental conditions, making their public health control challenging.
Global and National Efforts to Eliminate NTDs
In 2021, the WHO developed a road map aiming for the elimination of NTDs by 2030. Seven countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Ghana, and Chad, have been validated by the WHO as having eliminated HAT as a public health problem.
Nigeria, however, continues to face challenges despite the WHO reporting zero new cases of trypanosomiasis. A review by Odebunmi et al. (2024) indicates a disease burden of 3.6% for sleeping sickness and 27.3% for Nagana. These statistics highlight the ongoing struggle to control and eliminate the disease within Nigeria’s borders.
The Broader Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases
NTDs, including onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminth infections, and trachoma, among others, are communicable diseases found in tropical and subtropical regions. These diseases have long received insufficient attention in terms of prevention and control, leading to devastating health, social, and economic impacts. Over 170,000 people die annually from NTDs, with millions more suffering from disfigurement, stigmatisation, malnutrition, and cognitive problems.
Nigeria bears a particularly heavy burden, with a quarter of the people affected by NTDs in Africa residing in the country. An estimated 100 million Nigerians are at risk for at least one NTD, and many are infected with multiple diseases.
Progress and Continued Challenges
Despite the WHO’s report of zero new HAT cases in Nigeria, Professor Chinyere Ukaga of Parasitology clarifies that this does not mean the disease has been eradicated. Progress is being made, but the journey towards elimination requires adherence to WHO criteria and guidelines.
Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, guided by research and expert recommendations, aim to reduce the prevalence and impact of sleeping sickness. The road ahead involves continued vigilance, enhanced vector control measures, and robust public health strategies to combat this persistent tropical disease.
Source: Punch Healthwise
By providing valuable insights into Nigeria’s fight against sleeping sickness, this article aims to raise awareness and encourage continued efforts in eradicating this debilitating disease.
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