Letter urges General TY Danjuma to lead $300-500m NTD elimination fund
Open letter to General TY Danjuma proposes 10-15 year Nigeria Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Accelerator Fund of $300-500 million. Nigeria accounts for half of Africa's NTD burden and quarter of global burden, with 100+ million Nigerians infected or at risk. Target diseases: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and trachoma. Progress already made—39.5 million across 20 states no longer need lymphatic filariasis treatment; 106 of 126 endemic LGAs met trachoma elimination thresholds. Letter asks General Danjuma to champion fund creation, convene design roundtable with stakeholders, and provide anchor leadership through seed capital or challenge grant. Economic analysis suggests eliminating Nigeria's five most prevalent NTDs could generate $19 billion in benefits through higher productivity and lower health costs.