FCTA Commits To Eradicating Tropical Diseases

The FCT Administration in collaboration with other partners have reiterated their commitment to eradicating neglected tropical diseases prevalent in the territory.

The FCT Acting Director, Public Health, Dr. Doris John made this known in Abuja at a stakeholders feedback meeting on the outcome of the administration of deworming drugs in schools across the six area councils.

Dr John who said this became necessary to monitor the level of progress made so far in overcoming some of the diseases especially Schistosomiasis which is more prevalent in most of the area councils.

She also called for more awareness campaigns on the preventive measures to eradicate all neglected tropical diseases in the territory.

While commending some of the area councils that witnessed some reduction in the disease burden Dr. Doris John called for attitudinal change among communities where they have been provided with clean water but still preferred to use water bodies that host the root cause of schistosomiasis.

In a message, representatives of the FCT Waterboard, Mohammed Shehu pledged to contribute their quota through Provision of quality water to secure the health of the people.

In his words, “We understand our role as a body saddled with the responsibility of not just giving any water, but quality water. Of course, water and hygiene go hand in hand, and there can never be any good health without good water. We have a slogan, quantity, and price we can negotiate, but quality and safety are never negotiable.”

In a remark, representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adebayo Peters who appreciated partners in the fight against neglected tropical diseases prevalent in Nigeria said assessment of progress made so far is in line with the World Health Organization’s target to eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases by the year 2030.

According him, “I know we have done five rounds of treatment and that actually has qualified the FCT for impact assessment which is actually recommended by the WHO. Because we expect that after five rounds of treatment we should do an assessment, the assessment would enable us to know the effects of the medicines that are given to the children whether we should continue or stop.”

In their separate goodwill messages representatives of relevant agencies and the partners pledged not to relent in contributing their quota to win the fight against Tropical diseases in Nigeria.

Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji