The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that poor sanitation and hygiene in rural communities and poverty rate have worsened efforts towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria.

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, Bauchi said this on Thursday during a media engagement on NTDs elimination.

According to her, poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water are major contributors to the spread of NTDs, stressing that communities must adopt cleaner and healthier habits to break the vicious cycle of disease and poverty.

“Poverty is a vicious cycle of ill health and deprivation. When people are poor and live in unclean environments, they are more likely to get sick. When they fall ill, they can’t work and this deepens poverty,” she said.

She emphasised the need for improved sanitation and hygiene practices, urging both government and communities to invest in safe water supply, proper waste management, and cleanliness at the household level.

“We have to strengthen our health system and focus on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) interventions. Media are the eyes, ears, and voice of society — you can create awareness, influence behaviour, and change lives. Behavioural change is not easy, but the media plays a very strong role in achieving it,” she stated.

The UNICEF chief also warned against open defecation and unsafe water sources, noting that polluted rivers expose communities to diseases such as River Blindness and other infections transmitted by flies and mosquitoes.

“When we prevent flies and mosquitoes, we prevent several diseases like malaria and dengue. Sanitation, clean water, and timely health-seeking behaviour are key to preventing these illnesses,” she added.

Also speaking, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the NTDs Control Programme under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hauwa Abubakar, described NTDs as diseases of poverty that remain a major public health concern, particularly in rural communities.

“NTDs are preventable and curable diseases that mostly affect the poor and people living in rural areas. They cause disability, deformity, and sometimes death if left untreated,” she explained.

She appealed to media practitioners to support awareness campaigns by amplifying accurate information about the prevention and control of NTDs, adding that enlightenment remains one of the most effective tools for reducing the burden of such diseases in Nigeria.

The media dialogue brought together health experts, communication specialists, and journalists to strengthen collaboration towards eliminating NTDs and improving community health outcomes in Bauchi State and beyond.