Embrace Deworming Drugs; FCTA Tasks Residents
By: Prudence Okonna
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has tasked residents to embrace deworming drugs targeted at treating the four major Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) endemic in the Nation’s Capital.
Acting Director Public Health Department, Dr. Doris John, gave the charge during a stakeholders meeting in preparation for the Mass Administration of Medicines for NTDs, in Abuja, Thursday.
The Director, who was represented by the NTDs Programme Manager, Public Health Department, Dr. Eunice Ogundipe, noted that the major reason for bringing the stakeholders from the six Area Councils is to help mobilize, educate and create awareness in the communities on the importance of these deworming medicines.
John said these diseases are predominant in poor communities with little or no Water and Sanitation facilities, which have been associated with stigma because of the form it takes.
She explained that diseases such as elephantiasis has wide spread superstitious believes, because it presents as a swollen leg which makes it difficult for affected persons to freely interact in the communities.
Her words: “So many community members are suffering from NTDs, for instance, elephantiasis which occurs when a person’s leg becomes excessively swollen, they make reference to witches and wizard or charm, but with this meeting, our stakeholders know that there are drugs that are free and accessible that are targeted at these diseases. We want to assure residents that through these drugs, they will be fine”.
Also speaking at the meeting, Programme Manager, Schistosomiasis/ Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Imaobong Umah, said that one of the strategies for the elimination of NTDs in Nigeria is Mass Administration of the Deworming Medicines in Schools and Communities, hence, the gathering of the stakeholders from across board.
She lamented the push back received from some community members due to ignorance and appealed to residents especially parents to encourage their children to take the drugs when given in school; emphasizing on the need to feed the children properly before administering the drugs.
Also speaking, the NTDs Technical Specialist, Christoffel- Blinden Mission (CBM), Nigeria, Joseph Kumbur, says that as one of the organization supporting the annual MAM programme for the past 28 years, it needs the buy-in of all the stakeholders present to be able to the reach the targeted population in the communities, which are mostly children.
The four major Neglected Tropical Diseases Prevalent in the FCT include are Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis and Schistosomiasis. Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis is endemic in AMAC and Gwagwalada, Lymphatic Filariasis is endemic in Abaji, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari, while Onchocerciasis and Schistosomiasis are endemic in the six area councils.
Some of the stakeholders present at the meeting include representatives of Traditional Rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’tu Nasril Islamic (JNI), Heads of Department Health, FCT-Primary Health Care Board, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) among others across the six area councils.
