Zamfara State Ministry Of Health, Donor Agency Celebrate The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

Zamfara State Ministry Of Health, Donor Agency Celebrate The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 


By Aminu Abubakar Mayanchi Gusau 

The Zamfara State Ministry Of Health in collaboration with sightsavers  a donor agency have today marked Neglected Tropical Diseases Day. (NTDs)

Speaking while briefing newsmen, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradaun said that the World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on 30th January every year since 2020, with the aim to celebrate achievements made toward control of Neglected Tropical Diseases and encourage everyone to join the growing movement toward elimination and eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The Commissioner spoke through the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Bashiru Surajo.

"Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic infections that are major causes of preventable blindness and disability. They threaten almost 2 billion people worldwide and can cause severe and lifelong impairment", she noted.

"These debilitating diseases are most prevalent in rural regions, poor urban areas, and conflict zones. They not only affect people's health, but they also take away their opportunities to go to school or earn a living. Also, the associated stigma can have a devastating impact on those affected, as well as their families and communities"

The Commissioner noted that in the whole world, NTDs are major causes of up to 530,000 lost lives and more than 60 million disability- adjusted life years while in Nigeria alone, more than 100 million people are at risks of one or more of these Neglected Tropical Diseases among them are


"Trachoma (a blinding disease)Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis),  Schistosomiasis (Bilhaziasis and Soil-transmitted Helminths (intestinal worms) among others"

"Zamfara State is also not left out in this fight against the NTDs, the State with support from our Partners (Sightsavers) achieved interruption of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) transmission in 6 Local Governments that was previously endemic which includes Bukkuyum, Anka, Maru, Bungudu, Tsafe and Zurmi"

"Similarly, trachoma endemic LGAs like Bungudu, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Tsafe and Zurmi are under control hence no longer in need of preventive drug treatment"

"Lymphatic Filariasis to which the whole 14 LGAs in the State are endemic are now under control as all the LGAs have attained 5 or more than 5 effective therapeutic coverages during Mass Administration of Medicine and are now due for Pre-Transmission Assessment Survey"

"What is remaining for the State to control is Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis). In the last distribution of Praziquantel tablets among School-Aged Children for the treatment and prevention of Bilharziasis (Bloody urine) in 2024, the treatment figures show more than One Million three hundred thousand (1,300,000) children were treated across the state. Similarly, our partners (Sightsavers) supported operating 250 patients with Hydrocele (Scrotal swelling) across the State for free in their efforts to eliminate Elephantiasis in 2025. One hundred and seventy health workers were equally trained to manage over 160 patients affected with Elephantiasis and their relatives in their efforts to convert the disease.

"To this end, I am glad that tremendous achievements were made about the NTD over the years in Zamfara state and Nigeria as a whole, but that will not stop us from making more efforts to eliminate them"

"I want to assure the people of Zamfara that, the administration of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal, is committed to improving the health indices in the state through system strengthening who ensured procurement and distribution of medical equipment to all health facilities, recruitment of qualified health workers in communities where their services are much needed and upgrading infrastructures"

 "We are determined to achieve the goal of eliminating NTDs in Zamfara according to the WHO roadmap by 2030 in sha Allah"

 "I wish to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to our Partners (Sightsavers) working in the State supporting the fight and control of NTDS"

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