By EZEKIEL DONTINNA
PLATEAU State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Cletus Bako Shurkuk, has, based on national rating, disclosed that, the state was second to none in curtailing effects of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)’s transmission in Nigeria.
He disclosed this recently, while addressing journalists on the occasion marking World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day at the Ministry of Health conference hall, JD Gomwalk Secretariat Jos, the State capital.
The Commissioner said, “Nigeria is one of the most endemic countries in the world for NTDs with an estimated 100 million people at risk for at least, one NTD according to International Charity Sightsavers.
“But Plateau State, with the support of the Carter Centre, has made tremendous progress in curtailing the effects and transmission of some of these NTDs, especially with regards to Guinea worm (GWD), Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis and Trachoma.
“The State NTDs Programme with support of the Carter Centre has successfully carried out free surgeries for 59 Hydrocele patients in 2023. Intensive Mortality Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) is ongoing across the 17 LGAs,while Post Treatment Surveillance is currently going on across our border communities as regards Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Onchocerciasis”, he highlighted.
Shurkuk, while appreciating Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for supporting health programmes and giving an enabling environment to work, called on Plateau people to unite and act towards elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by stopping it saying, “together we can do more.
While entertaining questions from journalists, the Plateau State NTDs Coordinator, Mr. Philemon Dagwa, said Carter Centre started with 2000 patients and has trained them on how to manage washing their legs and most of them have been doing it themselves and they are doing it well.
However, he expressed concern that the Programme Officer of Carter Canter, Bulus Mancha, people thought the ailment was demonic and they were trying to sensitise the general public on this perception and help in trying to eliminate this diseases completely.
