WHO urges increased sensitization against neglected tropical diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for increased sensitization among the populace to debunk the many wrong believes about Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) include trachoma, guinea worm, schistosomiasis, Lymphatic filariasis , Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), and Onchocerciasis among others. Nigeria accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the global burden […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for increased sensitization among the populace to debunk the many wrong believes about Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) include trachoma, guinea worm, schistosomiasis,
Lymphatic filariasis , Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), and Onchocerciasis among others.
Nigeria accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the global burden of NTDs with over half of the population at risk to at least one of the diseases as at December 2017.
WHO Country representative, Wondimagegneh
"As such, they do not seek medical assistance and continue to suffer severe disfigurement and disabilities. This impacts negatively on life expectancy, education and economic opportunities of affected individuals and the communities they live in”, Dr Alemu said.
He said the myths and misconceptions are more prevalent in the rural areas and that sensitization remains very important in such settings to foster behavior change towards early health-seeking behaviour and improved uptake of drugs.
He said WHO has increased support to the government of Nigeria towards elimination of five of the over 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) endemic in the country due to her tropical nature.
Dr Alemu said this is in support of the country’s NTD roadmap developed in 2012, which prioritizes three diseases for control, five for elimination and two for eradication.
WHO’s present support is focused on NTDs that are controllable through mass drug chemoprophylaxis and involves supporting the government in identifying all Local Government Areas with high disease burden, and providing and monitoring donated drugs for mass drug administration.
He said since the beginning of 2018, WHO has been complementing other partners by supporting implementation of mass drug administration in up to 90 LGAs for Schitosomiasis, 39 for Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis and 37 for Lymphatic Filariasis.
"This will enable the country have a total of 546 LGAs with ongoing treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis, 478 LGAs for Oncho, 390 LGAs for Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis and 64 LGAs for Trachoma," the Country representative said.
He said WHO provided over 60 million tablets of Praziquantel in 2017 for the 583 LGAs mapped to have high prevalence for schistosomiasis commonly called Bilharzia disease.
Dr Obiageli Nebe of the Federal Ministry of Health said that the ministry has strengthened collaboration with grassroots organizations in order to increase awareness and uptake of free drugs for those at risk or affected by any of the targeted NTDs.