About 3,343 men have received free surgical treatment for hydrocele, a disease that causes scrotal swelling, helping to improve their health, restore dignity and reduce stigma.

This was disclosed by the Communications Associate at Sightsavers Nigeria, Joy Tarbo, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja ahead of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, marked annually on January 30.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 110 million people in Nigeria remain at risk of lymphatic filariasis (LF), with an estimated 10–15 per cent of affected individuals—mostly men—living with hydrocele.

LF is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites, while Hydrocele is a painful or massive swelling of the scrotum in men.

Ms Tarbo said Sightsavers, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), had been supporting underserved communities that lacked access to specialised medical care.

She explained that the interventions included community-wide drug administration campaigns to halt transmission of the disease, training health workers and patients in lymphedema management, capacity-building for surgeons on proper hydrocele surgery techniques, and the provision of free hydrocele surgeries.

“Since the programme began in 2024, 96 surgeons have been trained and 3,343 men have had the life-changing operation. The programme has also trained 1,737 patients and caregivers on lymphoedema management. For World NTD Day, Sightsavers is sharing just a few of their stories,” she said.

Coordinator of the intervention, Dr Musa Abdullahi, said the surgeries were conducted across selected states using standard medical procedures by trained specialists.

Mr Abdullahi explained that scrotal-swelling disease, often neglected due to stigma and lack of awareness, could severely affect the quality of life of sufferers if left untreated.

“Many of the beneficiaries had lived with this condition for years because they could not afford surgery or did not know where to seek help.

“This programme is about restoring health, confidence and productivity,” he said.

He noted that beyond surgery, beneficiaries also received counselling, follow-up care and health education to prevent complications and encourage early medical consultation.

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Samaila Musa, a 55-year-old farmer, said he had lived with the pain and stigma of hydrocele for more than 20 years, forcing him to avoid public gatherings and withdraw from community life.

Mr Musa added that he was compelled to seek help from a local, unqualified practitioner, whose so-called “surgery” left him with serious complications and put his life at risk.

 “I didn’t care about the risks anymore, I just wanted this thing out of my life. Sightsavers gave me hope and freedom. Now, I can live like everyone else again,” he said.

Similarly, Abdulrafiu Sani, 65 year-old from Kaduna State, who lived with bilateral (both sides) hydrocele, said he was constantly embarrassed, avoided social functions and his marriage became strained.

After successful surgery, he said he felt reborn. “Sightsavers gave me back my life. I can live like a normal man again.”

Bem Bajah, a retired 65-year old lecturer from Benue State, had recently developed hydrocele in both testes, said “It pains me, so I don’t make love often, even the size alone has made me very uncomfortable.”

Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Cynthia Rowe, said, “NTD like lymphatic filariasis steal people’s health, dignity and livelihoods, yet they are preventable and treatable.

“Through our partnership with the Government of Nigeria and organisations such as Sightsavers, the UK is supporting the country’s efforts to deliver lifechanging care for thousands of people.

“On World NTD Day, we recognise the men who have endured years of pain and stigma, and we celebrate the progress being made to restore their health, dignity and ability to provide for their families.”

On her part, Country Director at Sightsavers, Prof. Joy Shuaibu, said, “these stories show why the fight against NTDs must remain a national and global priority.

“It’s not just physical suffering. These diseases take away people’s dignity, livelihoods, and opportunity.

“Through strong partnerships we are restoring health, rebuilding confidence, and giving people the chance to live full, productive lives. This is what progress against NTDs looks like.”

She, therefore, reaffirmed Sightsavers commitment to work closely with government institutions, international partners, and local communities to eliminate NTDs across the country.

Ms Shuaibu added that through strengthening health systems and supporting safe surgical care, they would help improve access to quality treatment for affected communities.

She said that by integrating NTD interventions into broader health programmes, they would contribute to a future where preventable and treatable diseases no longer trapped people in poverty and exclusion.

(NAN)