By Rauf Oyewole
The Federal and Bauchi State Governments in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have recommit to elimination of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
The North East Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar, described schistosomiasis as the second largest killer after malaria.
According to her, NTDs contribute to poor educational and health outcomes and a threat to food security. She added that NTDs prevent children's growth, reduce adults' economic production and lower the immune system.
"Other effects are malnutrition, stigmatisation and discrimination to mention but just a few. Some of the six common NTDs include, Lymphatic, Onchocerciasis,Trachoma, Schistosomiasis, Trichinosis and hookworm. We conduct house to house medication to eliminate the diseases,” she said.
The Northeast Coordinator emphasised on surveillance and continued enlightenment to promote public health.
The State Coordinator of NTDs, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Mr Haruna Wakili, said that health posts were mounted on state borders as measures to eliminate the disease.
He pledged to insert NTDs data in the state’s primary health board quarterly publication for proper awareness. Wakili added that snake bites is also another NTDs that needs media content to fight the scourge.
He said that funding remained a challenge in NTDs campaigns in the state. He commended UNICEF for its continued support and called for improved collaboration with the media in promoting health awareness campaigns.
Also, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, described the media as an important player in eliminating NTDs. She said that the journalists have a role in sensitisation of citizens on treatment, prevention of the diseases and importance of regular health campaigns targeting NTDs such as river blindness, trachoma, schistosomiasis, and lymphatic filariasis.
She explained that consistent and accurate reporting would help influence positive behavior and increase participation in mass drug administration and hygiene practices.
The UNICEF boss commended the Federal and State Ministries of Health for continued interventions aimed at eliminating NTDs in the state.
Rafique said "prevention of the spread of Mosquito and flies as transmitting agents of some NTDs should be intensified. We need to have clean water for the communities so they don't go to the rivers.
“We need to prevent flies and mosquitoes, sanitation and a clean environment are very important in preventing these diseases.
"The media should raise awareness to save people's lives. Bauchi and Gombe are almost at the break point and we need collaborative effort to eliminate all forms of NTDs.”
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