‘How neglected diseases ravage Kaduna LGAs’

The Neglected Tropical Diseases:  Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), and Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephanthiatis),  are diseases that can kill  yet not given adequate attention in Kaduna State, Sight Savers, an international non-governmental organisation has  said. Others ravaging the state are Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), Soil Transmitted Helnicathes (Intestinal Worms) and Trachoma (Blinding Eye Disease). Programme Manager of the Kaduna State […]

The Neglected Tropical Diseases:  Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), and Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephanthiatis),  are diseases that can kill  yet not given adequate attention in Kaduna State, Sight Savers, an international non-governmental organisation has  said.
Others ravaging the state are Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), Soil Transmitted Helnicathes (Intestinal Worms) and Trachoma (Blinding Eye Disease).
Programme Manager of the Kaduna State Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme, Dr. Abdulkadir Isa Randagi, said that the diseases could be controlled if traditional leaders are involved.
Speaking at the Emir of Zazzau’s palace, he said the diseases mostly affect the rural populace, thus the need to involve traditional rulers for the fight to succeed at the grassroots.
Randagi said that 15 local government areas of Kaduna state were found to be endemic for onchocerciasis and 18 were found to be endemic for lymphatic filariasis while all the 23 local government areas were endemic for schistosomiasis.
 Dr. Ado Zakari Mohammed, Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Kaduna, said the diseases are now receiving attention, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has in the last ten years reviewed the cases of the diseases and realised that millions of people died or were disabled by the diseases.