As the world celebrates the Inuagural World Neglected Tropical Disease(NTD) Day today,Abia State Government has expressed satisfaction on the tremendous success recorded in the control and elimination of diseases in the state.
The World NTD Day is an International celebration supported by USAID, Global health experts and other stakeholders in the health sector working across the diverse NTD landscape to end the disease and ensure people lead healthy and impactful lives.
The NTDs include River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis(swelling of the hands and legs), Hydrocele (scrotal enlargement), Soil transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis, while those living in poor hygienic environment and in close contact with infectious vectors and domestic animals are most at risk.
Briefing Journalists in his office,the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Emole Egbulefu, while pointing out that the Abia State government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Carter Centre had been fighting these diseases since 2009, said “about 2.8 million persons across the 17LGAs in Abia have been treated annually with Mectizan and Albendazole for the control of River Blindness, Soil transmitted Helminthes and Schistosomiasis since 2015”.
His words:”In 2019, about 7.8 million tabs of Mectizan and 2.8 tabs of Albendazole were distributed in the state.
“So far, with the support of the Governor of Abia State, ably led by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife,Deconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, the state NTD program has recorded tremendous achievements in the control of these diseases”.
Egbulefu while noting that although about 3 million people are at risk of one or all of these diseases in the state, said the disease preventable and treatable using Mectizan and Albendazole.
He however assured that by the year 2022,all the LGAs in Abia State will be eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis and Soil transmitted Helminthes.
The Permanent Secretary called for support from NGOs, Civil Society Organizations and the Public to support the annual distribution of Mectizan and Albendazole in various communities so as to beat the elimination target of these diseases.
Also speaking, the Director Public
Health,Dr. Onyechere Nwokocha said people erroneously attributed NTDs to spiritual problems hence the need to educate the populace to be aware of the diseases and know that they are treatable.
The Programme Officer of the Carter Centre, Abia State, Mrs Nnenna Ukairo while noting that drugs for NTDs are readily available for treatment,said the center working with Community Direct Distributors(CDDs) in 355 villages across the state to ensure proper distribution of the drugs to the people.
In his contribution, the manager, NTDs in Abia,Mr Offor Solomon, enumerated the treatment and Mobility control as part of the programme embarked by the center adding that with the help of the state government, they have recorded a high number of success with independent surgeries done free of charge on persons with scrotal enlargement since 2015.
