Kogi State Government marked World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day by launching a series of awareness campaigns and initiatives to educate the public about the impact of NTDs.
Mr. Alabi B. Albert, the State Programme Coordinator for NTDs, highlighted that NTDs are a group of diseases that affect over 1.7 billion individuals worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. These diseases disproportionately impact impoverished communities and are often associated with inadequate housing, water, and sanitation.
To raise awareness, the Kogi State NTD team conducted advocacy visits to key stakeholders, including local government officials, traditional leaders, and religious figures. Educational programs were also organized in schools to educate students on the importance of personal hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and NTD prevention.
In addition, the state NTD team organized road walks and campus walks to increase awareness about NTDs. Similar events took place in all 21 local government areas within the state.
Kogi State has made significant progress in combating NTDs, achieving several milestones in the past year, including:
– Performing 50 free hydrocele surgeries for patients diagnosed with hydrocele, a complication of lymphatic filariasis.- Conducting an epidemiological survey of 7,000 samples, all of which tested negative for lymphatic filariasis.- Conducting an entomological survey to determine the presence of black flies, which are vectors of river blindness.
The state NTD team has also made strides in the fight against lymphatic filariasis, with 11 local government areas endemic for the disease. Transmission assessment surveys have shown significant reductions in the prevalence of the disease.
Dorothy Onoja
PRO
Ministry of Health
