2021 World NTDs Day: Nasarawa/ Plateau top in fight against diseases – Official
From Francis Nansak, Lafia
As the world marked the 2021 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Nasarawa state commissioner of Health,Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya,has revealed that Nasarawa and Plateau states among the 36 states of Nigeria are topmost in the fight against the deadly scurge.
The Commissioner made the revelation on Monday when he hosted journalists in his office in Lafia,to commorate the 2021 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day.
He further revealed that Nasarawa state is endemic to 5 of the NTDs ,which he named as follows, Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Flariasis,Schistosomiasis,Trachona and Soil Transmitted Helaimthes,that are prevalent across the 13 Local Government Areas in the state.
“Although mapping is yet to be carried out on others” He revealed.
The commissioner further pointed out that Nasarawa state ,along with its supporting partner”The Carter Center” are leaving no stone unturned in the fight against the deadly Diseases.
According to him,” The state Ministry of Health provides Man-power, infrastructure and funds for the Programme,while the Carter Center supports the state in capacity building at state ,LGAs and Community levels.
” So far, I would want to state here proudly that Nasarawa state and it’s counterpart,plateau state are the only states in the country that have set a wonderful pace in the fight against NTDs by interrupting 3 of the diseases,which was made possible by the support of Carter Center” He said.
Pharmacist Ahmed Yahaya,further stated that through the support from Carter Center,the state Programme Office have trained 390 Health workers,trained 3019 Teachers and had also trained 1003 Community Directed Distributors,as well as conducted Free Hydrocele Surgery’s for 180 patients and set up 7 Hope Groups for Management of Elephantiasis patients in 7 LGAs in the state.
