FCTA PARTNERS CBM, HANDS TO DELIVER 50 FREE HYDROCELE SURGERIES
By: Prudence Okonna
As part of efforts to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the FCT, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has partnered with Christoffel-Blinden Mission (CBM) and Health and Development Support Programme (HANDs) to provide 50 free hydrocele surgeries for residents.
The initiative, flagged off on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Kubwa General Hospital, targets men suffering from hydrocele, a painful complication of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) that causes swelling in the scrotum, often leading to stigma, loss of livelihood, and emotional distress.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the Public Health Department (PHD), Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Dan Gadzama, described the intervention as “a life-changing opportunity for affected men to regain their health, dignity, and productivity.”
Represented by the Head of Disease Control Division, Dr. Ngozi Ebisike, Dr. Gadzama noted that the initiative reflects the FCTA’s commitment to increasing awareness about NTDs and improving the health of FCT residents.
He commended the long-standing support of CBM, which has partnered with the FCTA since 1995 on NTD control, including supporting onchocerciasis treatment with ivermectin since 2010. He
The Director also acknowledged IHS Towers, a telecommunications company that began supporting the FCTA in 2024 by funding mass drug administration for onchocerciasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis, as well as training 600 case finders in Abaji and Kwali.
Dr. Gadzama explained that these community efforts led to the identification of 65 hydrocele cases, with IHS Towers sponsoring 50 surgeries in the first phase.
He described the collaboration as highly impactful in reducing the burden of NTDs in the FCT.
In her goodwill message, the Team Lead of the NTDs Unit in the Public Health Department, Lami Ndayako, appreciated CBM and HANDs for their consistent partnership in fighting NTDs in the FCT over the past three decades.
Programme Manager for CBM’s Neglected Tropical Disease Programme, Mary Anne Manok, who represented the Country Director, explained that CBM’s focus is on mobility and disability prevention for people living with NTDs such as lymphatic filariasis, particularly hydrocele and lymphedema management.
She noted that hydrocele, a mosquito-borne condition that affects the lymph nodes and manifests as scrotal swelling, can only be corrected through surgery. However, stigma and lack of awareness often force patients into hiding, preventing them from accessing care.
“To address this, CBM partners with the government and organisations to provide subsidised surgeries. IHS Towers is funding the subsidised costs, while HANDs coordinate case management and community awareness creation,” she explained.
According to her, the collaboration is a “win-win” for all parties; the government can demonstrate its services, communities gain access to care, and patients’ quality of life improves.
She stressed that partnerships not only strengthen government structures but also boost awareness, accessibility, and confidence in the public health system.
Programme Director of HANDs, Dr. Innocent Emerua, represented by FCT Team Lead, Achai Ijah, expressed gratitude to CBM for its consistent support in eliminating NTDs in the FCT and to IHS for sponsoring the first batch of hydrocele surgeries.
He revealed that while this phase covers 50 beneficiaries, the next round is expected to cater for 80 patients. He also thanked the Medical Director of Kubwa General Hospital for his support and urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity.
Some beneficiaries also shared their gratitude. Aisha Mahmoud, mother of a three-year-old patient, said her son, Isah, had long suffered discomfort from a hydrocele until a health worker informed her of the surgery during a community outreach in Kwali. She expressed deep appreciation to the sponsors for restoring hope to her family.
Another beneficiary, 49-year-old Bolaji Paul, said he could not afford surgery from his meagre earnings but seized the opportunity offered by the free programme. He thanked the organisers for helping relieve him of the pain and stigma associated with a hydrocele.
Abuja Digest reports that hydrocele is one of the most common complications of lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne NTD endemic in parts of Nigeria, including the FCT. Experts maintain that surgery remains the only effective cure, making interventions such as this critical in reducing the disease burden.
