Benue still endemic to 5 neglected tropical diseases

The Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services has said that the state is endemic to neglected tropical diseases.

The commissioner in charge of the ministry, Dr Joseph Ngbea, made this known during this year’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day commemorated in Makurdi.

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Ngbea said among the 20 NTDs identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Benue State is endemic to five which include onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis,  soil transmitted helminths and trachoma.”

He said the ministry was in partnership with SightSavers to eliminate the diseases.

He explained that about 149 countries of the world are endemic to the NTDs with many people infected.

The commissioner said in Benue, “lymphatic filariasis is found in 18 LGAs while onchocerciasis, which leads to blindness, is found in all the 23 LGAs with schistosomiasis found in 22 LGAs, soil transmitted helminths in 16 LGAs and trachoma in three LGAs.

“In the past, we used to have programme funding partners like UNICEF and SightSavers but because of the COVID-19 lockdown, most of the partners are not accessible again. But I want to let you know that the celebration will help in re-awakening our interactions with funding partners and as well help in creating awareness  for the treatment and prevention of NTDs”

Also speaking, the Director of Public Health, Dr Terna Kur, who spoke on the day’s theme  ‘Beat NTDs; End The Neglect’ appealed to governments  to put more efforts on vector control because most of the diseases are linked to vector bites.

Kur also appealed to citizens to imbibe the culture of personal hygiene which is also important in knocking out of vectors which are carriers of the parasites.