By Sani Adamu Hassan
Over two million people in Bauchi in 2023 have been administered with various vaccines against Onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases NTDs in the state.
The exercise was conducted through the state primary health care development agency BSPHCDA, federal ministry of health, mission to save the helpless MITOSATH, health and development support HANDs, UNICEF among other development partners.
The state coordinator neglected tropical diseases NTDs Bauchi, Alh Nasiru Haruna Zwall during an awareness campaign in Gwaram, Alƙaleri local governments to mark this years 2024 World NTD day said the diseases are preventable and curable stressing the need on people to take necessary actions.
Alh Nasiru Zwall said NTDS are parasitic diseases which affects the poor and marginalized communities as a result of prevalence in communities with poor access to portable water and sub-standard hygiene.
He added state government is determined to eradicate all the neglected tropical diseases with a view to improve the state health care service delivery.
In her remark, the Zonal Director Northeast in the Federal Ministry of Health Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar represented by Abubakar Yakubu Kirfi pledge their commitment to continue given support to the state government in order to improve the health care system of the state.
Delivering a lecture on neglected tropical diseases NTDs found in Nigeria and the ways to prevent from contacting the diseases, Dr Muhammad Yarima Iliyasu from medical Microbiology ATBU Bauchi and Dr Mohammed Nasiru Wana from Medical Parasitology ATBU Bauchi reveal that after contacting with the disease, it will last for over tens years before it becomes harmful.
They therefore stress the need on people to always ensure health sanitation and hygiene with a view to eradicate all diseases.
In their goodwill messages, the representative of MITOSATH Mr Emmanuel Tanko, the district Head of Pali Alh Garba Muhammad Sambo and the caretaker committee chairman of Alƙaleri local Government Comrade Bala Ibrahim promise to continue partnering with the agency in the fight against the Neglected tropical diseases NTDs in the state.
