By Agabus Pwanagba
The Carter Center has called on policy makers at all levels in the country to build a sustainability mechanism in tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) among the citizenry.
The Center also said the country is blessed with a lot of resources that if tapped will aid in addressing the nation’s NTDs without depending on foreign donor organisations.
Among the Neglected Tropical Diseases identified by the Center includes Guinea worm, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, river blindness, trachoma, among others.
This was disclosed by Dr Abel Eigege, Director Integrated Programs of the Center, in charge of Plateau, Nasarawa and Ebonyi States, during the commemoration of the 2022 World NTD Day, with the theme: Achieving Health Equity to End Neglect of Poverty-Related Diseases, held at Seri, Kanke LGA of Plateau State.
Eigege said, “The support we get from government is using their staff and they pay the salary of their staff. But the money use for the intervention in the field has been largely due to donor support.
“My call to policy makers in the country is, the fact that sustainability has to be build in anything your doing, if it depends only on donor funding, what if the funding ceases?
“What I will suggest is that, yes we appreciate what government is doing, but one area that they need to do more, is to build in more sustainability.
According to him, “Nigeria has alot of resources, is a matter of tapping and getting connected to the right people.
“Dangote is the richest African, the sixth richest African is also a Nigerian, so I believe that with proper coordination, and mobilising our people; so that we are not dependent on donor funding, or if it ceases, we can continue to work.
“Therefore, our success story in commemoration of the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, we celebrate the work, successes of the Neglected Tropical Diseases which include Guinea worm, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, river blindness, trachoma, among others.
“Our success story is, we have worked here for over a quarter of a century, we have eradicated Guinea worm, and Nigeria was certified in 2013.
“Another major milestone, is that Plateau and Nasarawa States are the only States that have eliminated lymphatic filariasis and river blindness.
“It might interest you to know that Nigeria has the highest burden of River blindness in the world; so if you can eliminate the transmission in any place, its gives a pointer that, is possible to eliminate it; it gives hope and Carter Center builds hope and also deals with diseases”, he explained.
He maintained that, Seri community was chosen to commemorate the day, because the Center has demonstrated most of its innovations in the community, through its triple drug administration.
“For lymphatic filariasis, in Plateau and Nasarawa States, we have provided 36.1 million treatment for over a quarter of a century”, he stressed.
Also speaking, a community leader, and National Chairman Amper District Development Association, Engr. Peter Kassam, expressed delight over the intervention the Center has been rendering in the community.
“Honestly, we want to thank the Center for their intervention, before it has help in the elimination of river blindness and
lymphatic filariasis among others in Seri community”, he maintained.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Philemon Dagwa, the NTD Coordinator in the State, said the intervention of the Center has been “excellent”, commending them for their tireless efforts in eradicating NTDs in the state for over two decades.
Beneficiaries of the Center’s gesture thanked them and urged the to continue to do more for the community.
