In a landmark achievement for public health, Nigeria has successfully freed 47.1 million citizens from the threat of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness). The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, made the announcement in Abuja on Thursday, marking the conclusion of the transformative BLON project.
Exceeding Targets and Transforming Lives
Dr. Salako revealed that the country's largest-ever disease assessments, conducted between 2022 and September 2025, yielded results far beyond expectations. The project, backed by $4.9 million in funding from the Gates Foundation, initially aimed to stop treatment for 27 million people. However, final data showed that 31.1 million people no longer require treatment for lymphatic filariasis, while 16 million are free from onchocerciasis treatment needs.
"Nigeria has been able to deliver beyond the targets," Salako stated. He detailed the extensive fieldwork, which included 46 Emergency Medical Services (Pre-TAS), 116 TAS 1 and 3 surveys, and one breeding site assessment. This effort meant Nigeria hit 148% of its LF assessment goals and 150% for onchocerciasis.
Building a Legacy of a Stronger Health System
The BLON project was designed to solve a critical problem: many areas had already met World Health Organisation thresholds to stop mass drug administration but lacked the resources to conduct the necessary confirmatory assessments. Previous efforts were fragmented, but this initiative brought together Sightsavers, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Christian Blind Mission International, Helen Keller International, and MITOSATH for a coordinated, cost-effective national programme.
The project's impact extends far beyond disease numbers. It created a lasting legacy by strengthening Nigeria's health infrastructure:
- Four laboratories (UniOsun, TCC Lab, NIMR Lab, and A.B.U. Lab) received capacity building and achieved ISO 15189 international accreditation.
- Over 300 personnel were trained as card readers, data recorders, and field sample collectors.
- Critical policies for sample retention, disposal, and transportation were developed and implemented.
Professor Joy Shuaibu, Country Director for Sightsavers Nigeria, emphasized the human impact. "The remarkable achievement is that 31 million Nigerians will no longer need to take medication to prevent blindness. It allows these people to go on with their lives and engage in more productive activities," she said.
A Model for Future Interventions
The National Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Fatai Oyediran, highlighted the procedural breakthroughs. "Some of the achievements that will remain our legacy are the standard operating procedures we have agreed to retain," he noted, appealing for an extension of the project from the Gates Foundation.
The BLON project is now hailed as a milestone, successfully combining direct disease elimination with systemic health improvements. It provides a replicable model for tackling other neglected tropical diseases across Nigeria and the wider region, proving that strategic investment and partnership can yield extraordinary public health dividends.
