Neglected Tropical Diseases : Three million persons to benefit from free drug administration

Hon. Commissioner for Health and Human Services

By Prosper Okoye –

 

An average of over three million persons in Benue State are to benefit from the free mass drug administration programme which is aimed at interrupting the transmission of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantaisis), Schistosomiasis (Biharziasis), Soil Transmitted Helminthes (Intestinal Worms) and Blinding Trachoma.

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This was made known by the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea, while briefing journalists on the occasion of the 2022 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day with the theme: Achieving Health Equity To End The Neglect of Neglected Tropical Diseases and Poverty Related Diseases.

Dr. Ngbea explained that NTDs are widespread in the world’s poorest regions where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are substandard adding that such diseases affect over one billion people globally and are caused mostly by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi and toxins.

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He further expressed concern that though such diseases are ranked among the top four most devastating groups of communicable diseases along with diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS and lower respiratory infections, they are usually neglected and enjoy little funding because they are almost absent from the Global Healh Agenda.

Enumerating other NTDs listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to include Dengue, Foodborne Trematodiasis (FBT), Human African Trypanosomiasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthes, Schistosomiasis, Leprosy, Cysticercosis/Taeniasis as well as Snake Bite Envenoming among several others which he said are classified into Preventive Chemotherapy NTDs and Innovative/Intensified Disease Management, the Commissioner stated key strategies for addressing them which include Preventive Chemotherapy (PCT); Integrated Vector Control; Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as well as Innovative/Intensive Disease Management among others.

 

Speaking further, Dr. Ngbea gave the key programme milestones achieved so far in the state to include: Elimination of Threshold for Blinding Trachoma in all the three endemic Local Government Areas (Gwer-West, Gwer-East and Ukum); Management of 37 Trachomatuos Trachiasis (TT) and 530 Hydrocele cases for free; Constitution of the State NTDs Steering Committee as well as Intersectoral Collaboration with BERWASSA, SUBEB, CSOs and Security Formations in Benue State to improve coverage among others.

The Commissioner however stated the challenges being faced in the execution of the programme to include lack of counterpart funding; lack of ownership by communities; lack of incentives for community drug distributors as well as lack of project vans to traverse communities for effective monitoring and supervision.

Also fielding questions from journalists during the briefing, the ministry’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Terna Kur, enjoined those living within NTDs prone areas to always take precautionary measures by protecting themselves from vectors as well as take clean water at all times.

In his remark, the National Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) National Committee on NTDs, Dr. Terkaa Bito, who doubles as Chairman, Association of Public Health Physicians, Benue State Branch, assured of the committee’s commitment in the fight against NTDs.

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