Bauchi state has treated a total of 987,635 for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the year 2021.
The Directorate of NTDs in the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BASPHCDA) made the record available to Journalists in Bauchi indicates that the treatment was carried out in five LGAs of the state which includes Kirfi, Bogoro, Warji, Toro, and Giade.
According to the record, the target audience for the treatment is mostly children above five years considering that they are the most vulnerable to the diseases.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed has said out of the 20 local governments’ areas of Bauchi State, 19 have recorded one or more forms of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). It is viral, parasitic, and bacterial disease that mainly affects the world’s poorest people.
He made the disclosure to reporters in his office on Monday in commemoration of this year’s World NTDs day in Bauchi.
Mohammed said Katagum local government is the only local government that has not recorded one or more forms of NTDs.
Mohammed said already, the state is working in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and a local NGO, known as Mission to Save the Helpless in the effort to eliminate NTDs in the state.
“We are here today to commemorate the 2022 World NTDs Day. This year NTDs day has the theme: ‘Achieving health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases.
“The aim of celebrating the day is to create awareness to the general public on the existence of the diseases, their danger in relation to poverty and the control measures to put in place.
“These diseases affect about a billion people worldwide and are found in Tropical environments in communities with poor sanitation, lack of potable water, and poor personal hygiene,” he said
Mohammed explained that there are over 20 NTDs across the globe, depending on the endemicity of an area after mapping (Survey) is conducted.
He said Nigeria as a country is endemic of about 12 of them over 20 NTDs and is targeting the following for elimination: Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Trachoma, Schistosomiasis, Soil-Transmitted Helminths, Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy and Guinea worm disease.
Mohammed added that during the year under review the state was able to do Treatment for Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis in 5 LGAs; Pre-TAS in 1 LGA for LF transmission; Trained 248 health workers; Conducted hydroceleptomy surgeries for 137 persons as well as Conducted Trichiasis surgery for 1,926 persons.
“We are facing the challenge of not receiving required medicine from Federal Ministry of Health to complete treatment in the remaining endemic LGAs,” he added.
