By Aderogba George
The End-Fund Project, has pledged to extend its financial support for the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria until 2030.
Dr Carol Karutu, its Vice President of Programmes, said this during an on-site evaluation of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to combat NTDs in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the End-Fund aggregates donations from philanthropists and investors worldwide, directing them towards Nigeria’s fight against NTDs.
Karutu noted that the fund began supporting Nigeria in 2013, and her team was visiting the country to review progress and reinforce partnerships.
She explained that the visit was aimed at ensuring that funds were appropriately allocated to their intended purposes.
She also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government and field workers for their dedication to eradicating NTDs in the country.
“The goal of this meeting is to bring together partners, highlight the value of collaboration, and engage investors, the End Fund, the Ministry of Health, and implementing organisations and communities in a joint effort to end NTDs”.
She noted the importance of learning, connecting, and building stronger communities to ensure the success of their mission.
Dr Chukwuemeka Makata, National Onchocerciasis Programme Manager, Federal Ministry of Health, appealed to the End-Fund for additional funding to continue the fight against NTDs.
Makata, an Assistant Director at the ministry, highlighted the successes of the fund’s intervention, including the prevention of avoidable deaths and blindness.
He stressed that ongoing support would further save lives and halt NTD transmission in Nigeria.
Dr Aliyu Mohammed, Country Director of the Helen Keller Foundation, expressed gratitude to the fund, noting that his organisation had partnered for nearly nine years.
He praised the fund for helping the foundation achieve its goals of providing healthcare services to Nigerians both at home and abroad.
“We work in 20 countries, not only with the End-Fund in Nigeria, but also with grants from the fund in other countries where we operate”.
He commended the fund’s flexibility and willingness to assist when solutions are provided.
Dr Francisca Olamiju, Executive Director of Mission to Save the Helpless, acknowledged the fund’s support, noting that it was effectively used in three of the six states under her organisation’s mandate.
She described the collaboration with the fund as rewarding and impactful in reducing the burden of NTDs.
Juliana Amanyi-Enegela, Senior Programme Manager for NTDs at Christian Blind Mission (CBM), said the fund helped scale up mass drug administration, benefiting over 500 people with lymphatic filariasis.
She added that the fund had supported CBM’s programmes not only in Nigeria, but also in countries such as Burundi, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Amanyi-Enegela expressed appreciation for the partnership, noting its contribution to the fight against various NTDs in Nigeria, including onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted diseases. (NAN)