© CBM

New partnership to eliminate NTDs: How CBM and partners are uniting against NTDs in Nigeria

Over 2 million people in Abuja, Nigeria are at risk of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) — but proven collaborations are turning the tide. Funding from partners like The END Fund and IHS Towers will ensure that CBM delivers mass drug administration, health system strengthening, and community education in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

In Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over two million people face the threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, and the management of related morbidities, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. Since 1996, CBM, backed by institutional funding and strategic alliances with governments and global partners, has pioneered integrated approaches to disrupt disease transmission and strengthen health systems. 

Last year, strategic alliances secured critical resources to target high-risk river blindness hotspots, ensuring life-saving treatments reached those in need. Community leaders like HRH Luka Ayedo Nizasaan publicly called for community support, driving widespread participation in treatment campaigns. With lymphatic filariasis transmission halted in four endemic councils and millions protected through targeted interventions, CBM’s scalable partnership approach is proving that elimination is within reach. Continued support will expand these efforts, transforming more lives and communities.

Partnerships driving impact

© CBM
Joseph Kumbur, CBM technical specialist on NTDs

In 2024, CBM, alongside implementing partner Health and Development Support Program (HANDS) and with critical funding from The END Fund and IHS Towers (Nigeria’s leading telecom provider), launched a second round of mass drug administration (MDA) targeting river blindness hotspots in Abaji and Kwali following the recommendation from the national onchocerciasis elimination committee (NOEC). This initiative builds on decades of expertise: CBM has delivered 88.7 million preventive treatments globally in 2023 alone. In Nigeria, this directly contributes to the elimination of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in four FCT area councils. 

 

 

Community trust plus institutional collaboration equals sustained progress 

During a recent visit to Kwali’s community leader, HRH Luka Ayedo Nizasaan, the Etsu publicly endorsed CBM’s work by taking Mectizan and Albendazole (medicines used to treat river blindness and lymphatic filariasis), urging his community to participate.

Dr. Ngozi Ebisike, representing the FCT Director of Public Health, highlighted CBM’s role in driving policy alignment and measurable outcomes. He emphasised CBM’s technical expertise has transformed NTD response in Abuja—interrupting transmission, reducing disability, and empowering local health systems.

Beyond treatment: health systems strengthening for long-term change

CBM’s model integrates three pillars: 

  1. Mass drug administration: Targeting 100% coverage in high-risk zones. 
  2. Health education: Teaching hygiene and prevention to break infection cycles. 
  3. Government collaboration: Training health workers, upgrading infrastructure, and advocating for sustainable policies. 

Proven outcomes in Nigeria

  • Supported the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Nigeria in delivering 18.4 million doses of medicines in 2023, protecting over 12 million people from NTDs across eight states.
  • Elimination of LF achieved in four FCT councils. 
  • Trained 20,000 health volunteers and performed hydrocele and lymphoedema surgeries; this initiative brought NTD interventions to underserved communities.

Become a partner

Partner with CBM to leverage our 30-year legacy, deep local networks, and technical expertise in NTD elimination. With scaled funding, we can replicate Abuja’s in other affected areas. 

Become a partner
The fields marked with * are mandatory fields

By clicking on ‘Submit’ you agree to the use of your data in accordance with CBM's privacy policy.

Please wait 4 seconds after opening the current page before submitting the form.

You have completed the waiting time to prevent spam and can now submit the form.

Publications and resources

  • CBM NTD Annual Report 2024

    pdf, 7.3MB, Accessible

    In 2023, CBM made a remarkable impact, reaching an unprecedented number of people by delivering life-changing services focused on trachoma, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted worm infections and schistosomiasis. We successfully reached 54.1 million community members, providing them with much-needed care and support. Our commitment to preventive measures was demonstrated through the administration of 88.7 million doses of preventive chemotherapy, significantly reducing the burden of NTDs in high-risk communities

    Download