Three million residents of Ogun State are now at risk of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s) as record also revealed that all the twenty local government areas are endemic with the group of infectious diseases,but Government in a swift reaction said it is set to tackle the menace.
Penpushing reports that, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Tomi Coker made this known on Wednesday while addressing a press conference in commemoration of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s), explaining that the disease usually associated with poverty and are found mainly in the tropics.
‘Approximately 3 million are at risk in Ogun State of which 1.4 are school age children and several thousands battling with the complications of the diseases. Ogun State is endemic with 6 NTD’s. These are Ocnchocerciasis, Lymphatic, Filariasis, Schistosomasis, Soil Transmitted Helminthes, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer’, she said
The Commissioner, who said the theme of this year topic is, ’Beat NTD’s: Fpr Good for All’, said the State Government is determined to fight the diseases i with its partner, ‘Evidence Action’ and collaboration with the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
Penpushing further reports that, she disclosed that the control programme has trained 8,500 and treated school –age children in 6,000 schools in 2019, with the support of UNICEF and in collaboration with the endemic Local Government Areas staff and the Community Development Associations.
The Commissioner added that, 5,000 Community Directed Distributors were trained, and also seized the opportunity calling on private school proprietors to partner with the State School –based deworming exercise
Penpushing also reports that, Coker said the commemoration will include media appearances, sensitization in schools and communities through the Local Government Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s) teams and School workers, and equally called on ‘all to join hands in beating NTD’s in Ogun State’
