By Rotimi Odofin
Lokoja, Feb. 23, 2026
The Kogi State Ministry of Health’s Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) Programme, in partnership with Sightsavers, has commenced a two-day planning session for the 2025 Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) targeting Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas.
Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, the State Commissioner for Health, inaugurated the meeting on Monday in Lokoja, reiterating the State Government’s dedication to eradicating river blindness. Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Steven Momoh, Dr. Abdulazeez emphasized the meeting’s objectives: to assess progress, identify challenges, and formulate strategies for the forthcoming Mectizan distribution cycle.
He highlighted the state’s advancements in disease control through Mass Drug Administration campaigns, crediting the commitment of health workers and stakeholders. The commissioner expressed gratitude for the support of development partners, including Sightsavers, and encouraged active participation to ensure comprehensive community coverage.
Under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Kogi State Government remains steadfast in enhancing the health and well-being of its citizens. The Ministry of Health is poised to provide leadership, coordination, and support for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.
The commissioner urged participants to engage actively, share insights, and contribute to discussions, fostering collaboration to ensure no community is overlooked in the fight against river blindness.
Mr. Musa Momohjimoh, the State NTD Coordinator, explained that Kogi State’s susceptibility to Onchocerciasis is due to its water-rich environment, with the River Niger and Benue traversing several local governments. Since 1997, over 27 rounds of treatment have been administered in Kogi State, marking significant progress in combating the disease. Despite significant progress, challenges persist, and the disease remains endemic in certain regions, according to Momohjimoh. He called on citizens to engage in the mass medicine distribution scheduled for March 2026, which aims to reach all 3,200 communities in the state and target 4.5 million individuals aged five and above.
Phoebe Hindan, Sightsavers Programme Officer, highlighted the critical need for strategic implementation to ensure comprehensive coverage and prevent any individuals from missing out on this intervention. The initiative seeks to address gaps identified in previous efforts and move towards the complete eradication of the disease, rather than merely continuing treatment.
The distribution will span 10 days, and participants are encouraged to actively involve their communities in both the planning and execution phases, Hindan stated.
Earlier, Betsy Ibenu, NTD Data Manager at Sightsavers, noted that the meeting’s objective is to review implementation strategies and develop a work plan to achieve both geographical and therapeutic coverage. She stressed the importance of discussing micro-planning strategies and conducting in-depth investigations.
The meeting brought together stakeholders, including heads of health departments, NTD team members, the Kogi State branch of the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), NAFDAC, CAN, JNI, among others. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the goals of the Mass Administration of Medicines for river blindness.
The meeting was officially opened with high expectations for productive discussions and successful outcomes.
