The Adamawa Government and an International NGO, Helen Keller International are partnering in addressing Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state.
The state Coordinator of NTDs, Dr Lucky Daniel, made this known in an interview on Monday in Yola.
Daniel said that NTD diseases, such as onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminthes and trachomatous trichiasis, affect poor people associated with lack of hygiene.
“Already the state has an existing NTDs unit under the department of public health of the Ministry of Health saddle with the responsibility of management and preventing of NTDs in the state.
“Also the state has a partner called Helen Keller International which provide both technical and financial support, right from conveying of drugs, training, distribution, supervision as well as data retrieval,” he said.
Daniel said that the state also have epidemiology unit which help with disease surveillances as well as emergency centre for any health emergency cases or challenge.
Daniel further said that 17 out of the 21 LGAs in the state are endemic for onchocerciasis, while 18 LGAs are endemic for lymphatic filariasis also known as elephantiasis.
According to him, schistosomiasis is endemic in all the 21 LGAs of the state.
“We also have soil transmitted helminthes in two LGAs and trachomatous trichiasis is in three LGAs.”
He said the measures taken to contain the NTDs also included awareness campaigns at the grassroots via health educators at the LG level.
In Yobe, a physician with Family Support Hospital in Damaturu, Dr Aliyu Mohammed, said the prevalent ones in the hospital were rabies, scabies and trachoma.
Mohammed said the diseases could be easily eradicated with supply of clean water, sanitary food handling and good hygiene.
He advised the general public to always wear long boots while on farm, avoid bathing with stagnant water or sharing clothes, and to ensure that bush meats are properly cooked before consumption.
