Health, Health Briefs
The FCT State Technical Advisory Committee (STACON) for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), has solicited the support of spirited Nigerians and organisations to tackle the menace of NTDs in the territory.
Chairman of the committee, Prof. Yoila Malann, of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja stressed the need to tackle the diseases headlong as some of them were endemic in the FCT.
He listed some of the NTDs to include; elephantiasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis among others.
Malann who is a professor of Entomology and Parasitology emphasised the need for synergy among Nigerians, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International donors to eliminate NTDs in the FCT.
He called on stakeholders not to be deterred by plans by international donors to stop funding for some African countries, insisting Africa can mobilise funds internally.
He said that the committee was not necessarily looking for funds, but more concerned about giving support to affected children of the disease in the FCT.
“These children need to be fed before this medicine can be administered to them; we have discovered that if you asked people for money that might be difficult to give, but food they can supply it.
“There may be food company, professional company and individuals that are willing to help the community, we are coming out of this meeting to say rather than look for money, people can provide us with medicine, food, hand washing equipment.
“NTD can be eliminated, it is achievable, even though we are beginning to find difficulty in funding in the eradication process particularly from major funders, in what is happening in the global economy of today, but we won’t rest on our oars.
“Funding can be mobilised within us as Nigerians and that is what we have come to realise in our meeting today, we have foundations, we have philanthropic organisations and companies that can key-in,’’ he said.
Dr Ogundipe Eunice-Bosede, the FCT Coordinator for NTDs elimination programme, also aligned herself with the call for support from philanthropists to end NTDs in FCT.
According to her, the medicine allocated to the FCT Public Health Department is usually not enough, hence the need for more support.
She equally called for the help of donors, philanthropists to help bridge the gap for the elimination NTD in FCT among the School Age Children (SAC).
“FCT STACON needs financial support, the government is trying but their best is yet to come, we need support, we need timely release of funds for this programme called NTDs,” she said.
Earlier, the Acting Director, FCT Public Health Department, Dr Dan Gadzama, commended all the development partners for their support over the years.
Gadzama who was represented by Dr Olubunmi Adeyemi, FCT Non-Communicable Diseases Coordinator, said that Mass Administration of Medicine (MAM) is the only sure way to prevent NTDs.
He said that the control strategies employed by the government to prevent these diseases will reduce the spread.
“Presently, the burden of schistosomiasis is quite high in Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), we are seriously preparing for the next round schistosomiasis MAM any moment from now.
“The medicines allocated to the FCT for this exercise can only take care of SAC at the expense of numerous adults battling with schistosomiasis disease,” he said.(NAN)
Tags:
