… Charges residents on ending tropical diseases
By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Government has set a target of 2030 for the total elimination of leprosy in the state.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh said this in a statement to mark the World Leprosy Day in Port Harcourt.
She said over the years, inequitable access and care for leprosy has continually undermined Nigeria’s earlier attainment of the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination target of less than one case per 10,000 in 1989.
Dr. Oreh said leprosy remains a disease of Public Health Challenge in Nigeria despite the existing interventions and services for the control of the disease.
An average of 4,000 leprosy cases is reported annually in the last years with relatively high proportion of children and many patients being diagnosed late with obvious deformities and disabilities in Nigeria, she said.
The Commissioner also said, this year’s theme; “Ending Stigma, Embracing Dignity”, is in line with “Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s goal of ensuring that leprosy is eliminated before the year 2030. The theme is in line with our strategy to engage corporate sector in partnering with us to fight against stigma in leprosy disease in our State”.
She noted that leprosy is curable and has been identified among the diseases marked for elimination, adding, “in Rivers State, the Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) strategy has been our strong guide in our resolve to eliminate leprosy before 2030, using the three pillars of Early Case Finding & Proper treatment, use of community based rehabilitation and cost effective advocacy and communication methods to improve community awareness and acceptance”.
The Commissioner further stated that the state’s resolve to achieve WHO’s target has informed the expansion of treatment centres to all the 23 local councils in the state, with a target of less than 1 person per 10,000 population.
Similarly, the Health Commissioner has advised residents of the state to take issues of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation very seriously to avoid tropical diseases such as lymphatic filainasis (Elephantiasis), Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STHs) Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy.
Dr. Oreh gave the charge while briefing newsmen in her office in Port Harcourt to mark the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (NTD).
She explained that NTDs are a group of ancient diseases associated with poverty, poor personal hygiene, dirty environments and overcrowding.
Dr. Oreh noted that this year’s theme, “Unite, Acts, Eliminate” serves as a rallying call for action.
“Everyone has a key role to play by bringing renewed attention to NTD’s building political will and mobilizing resources and putting individuals and communities at the centre of the response, we can collectively generate the attention and resources needed to deliver against the targets outlined in the WHO 2030 NTD road map,” she said.
The Commissioner stressed that the purpose of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is to reflect on the sufferings caused by NTDs and celebrate those who are engaged in tackling this burden.
She further stated that, “presently out of the 20 diseases listed globally as NTDs, Nigeria accounts for about 14 while Rivers State reported only on four categorized NTDs that are of Public Health Importance which are lymphatic filainasis ( Elephantiasis), Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STHs) Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy in the NTD program.
The Clcommissioner reassured that, “with the support of Rivers State Government through the State Ministry of Health, partners as well as other line ministries, department and agencies, we will act swiftly to end the neglect of the Neglected Tropical Diseases in Rivers State”.
