By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health has partnered Helen Keller International (HKI) to intensify awareness on the danger of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state as it affects public health.
Towards its drive, the ministry with support from HKI has planned to hold 1st NTDs Stakeholders Summit in Uyo on the the theme, ‘Enhancing Domestic Resource Mobilization Towards Sustaining the Control and Elimination of NTDs in Akwa Ibom State’
The State Coordinator of NTDs Control and Elimination Programme, Dr. Aniekeme Uwah in a statement made available to journalists yesterday, said that the summit will hold on September 7, 2023 at Watbridge Hotel and Suites, IBB Avenue, Uyo.
According to Dr. Uwah, the overriding objective of the summit is to bring stakeholders together to further sensitize them and create awareness on NTDs and its negative impact on the most vulnerable population leading to untold hardship, suffering and stigmatisation.
The summit he added, is hoped to also provide an avenue to advocate for more domestic resource mobilization for the implementation of the various strategies that have been put in place for the control and elimination of NTDs.
Neglected Tropical Diseases, he explained are Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Soil Transmitted Helminths, Trachoma, Dengue fever, Leptospirosis, Trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, Buruli Ulcer, Keprosy and Snake-bite.
Onchocerciasis or river blindness, Dr Uwah pointed out is a parasitic infection spread by files that lives near fast-flowing rivers. It causes severe skin irritation, itching and eventually irreversible blindness.
