Skip to main content

A Huge Progress In The Elimination of Nigeria's Neglected Tropical Diseases, Says Health Minister

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health (FMOH) has announced the elimination of River blindness in Plateau and Nasarawa states while marking the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day. 

                   Dr.  Muhammad Ali Pate

Speaking during a news conference to mark the 2024 World NTDs Day in Abuja on Tuesday. With this year’s theme being “Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs.” The minister, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized the global impact of NTDs, affecting 1.6 billion people, predominantly in developing nations. 

Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, the Director of Public Health, under the ministry, announced that Nigeria has achieved commendable progress in the prevention, treatment, and elimination of NTDs. He disclosed that;

"However, it is gladdening to note that substantial progress has been made over the last decade, as evidenced by some major achievements highlighted.

“Another achievement is the weaning of 29 million people off ivermectin treatment in 10 transmission states in the country and elimination of onchocerciasis in Plateau and Nasarawa states.

"Also, the interruption of transmission in Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Delta, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra states.”

Mr Pate said at least 39.5 million people across 20 states and Abuja no longer need lymphatic filariasis treatment, which reduces prevalence in the at-risk population of trachoma infection by 84 per cent.

“A total of 106 of 126 endemic local government areas for trachoma in the country have stopped treatment and have also attained elimination threshold for the active stage of the disease, while 91 areas have attained elimination threshold for the blinding stage of the disease.

"At inception, about 30 million persons were at risk of going blind from trachoma, but the risk has now been brought down significantly to about 3.5 million,” the minister explained.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate urged the media and stakeholders to sustain their support for NTD elimination, emphasizing the crucial role they play in achieving Nigeria’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Laxmikant Chavan, UCN Cluster Lead and AMR Expert, World Health Organisation (WHO), while reiterating commitment to NTDs elimination, commended the federal government for the progress achieved.

He said, “Let me appreciate Nigeria’s efforts and achievements. Nigeria has actually provided the medicines for mass drug NTDs.

“More than 20 million Nigerians now don’t need any mass drug administration. That means they are free from the NTDs, and that’s a big achievement.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Type your comments here

Popular posts from this blog

Israel To Pump Water From The Mediterranean sea, To Top Up The Sea Of Galilee

  The Sea of Galilee, Israel, despite its name, the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel is actually a freshwater lake, and it's one that has sustained life for millennia. Even today, the lake irrigates vineyards and local farms that grow everything from green vegetables to wheat and tangerines. Its archeology, hot springs and hiking trails bring tourism and livelihoods for local communities. But this place of religious pilgrimage — where the New Testament says many of Jesus' miracles were performed — is facing a bleak future, CNN reports. The climate crisis is causing huge fluctuations in the lake's water levels. Now it happens to be fairly full, but just five years ago, it hit a record low. Climate change and unsustainable water management are leaving lakes dried up all over the Middle East and beyond, but the Israeli government is hopeful it has a solution: It plans to pump water from the Mediterranean sea, take the salt out of it and send it across the country to top up th...
4 comments
Read more

In The Spotlight

Ed Sheeran shared a rare photo with his wife Cherry Seaborn as she turns 30 years old. The singer posted a sweet snap of him cuddling up to Cherry in a hammock on a sunny day. Ed shared the photo on Instagram, he wrote, “HBD to ma baby mama. 30 looks good on you.” To the delight of his 38 million Instagram followers. In the picture, Cherry holds a bottle of drink, as she stares adoringly at her childhood sweetheart, Ed Sheeran. Ed is a mega superstar and famous around the world, he remains incredibly private when it comes to his personal life.
Post a Comment
Read more

Aisha Buhari Refutes Posting A Release Saying That The Central Bank of Nigeria Has Extended The Validity Of The Old Naira Note By 70 Days

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari Denies Posting The Release Saying That The Central Bank of Nigeria Has Extended The Validity Of The Old Naira Note By 70 Days. In another post on the same verified Instagram handle, Mrs. Buhari denied posting the release that : Nigeria (CBN) had extended the validity period for old N,1000 and N500 notes by another 70 days. She alleged her account had been hacked.  The message, which was later tagged as fake news by the CBN, was sighted on the First Lady’s verified Instagram handle on Tuesday but was later pulled down.
Post a Comment
Read more