January 29, (THEWILL) – Neglected Tropical Diseases have been identified as a major cause of poor academic performance by children in areas where such cases are prevalent.
Dr Aniekeme Uwah, State Coordinator of NTD unit in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, noted this during a road walk to mark the 2022 NTD day in Uyo on Friday.
Uwah said roundworms (intestinal worms), which is one of such diseases, is capable of causing mental weakness as it could affect the blood supply to the victim’s brain.
Uwah, who doubles as the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), advised parents to allow their school-age children to accept free drugs administered as prevention against NTDs.
Making reference to the theme of this year’s event: “Achieving health equality to end the neglect of poverty related diseases”, the coordinator thanked Helen Keller Foundation for supplying and administering free drugs to communities and schools in the state.
“Let’s join hands to fight these illnesses. Whenever drugs are distributed to communities, please accept them as they are without side effects. When your children go to school and are given a form which requires your consent for those drugs to be administered to them, please accept them. The majority of parents reject those drugs but they are harmless to the children.
“Sometimes, children who are affected by NTDs may find it difficult to do well in school. That is because intestinal worms suck blood from their victims and such may affect their intellectual development.
“Sometimes you may feed your child but without good health, even our pregnant women with NTDs may have issues with shortness of blood.
“Last year, we identified some cases of hydroxyl, a condition which enlarged the Scruton, and cost of operation was about N300,000. We were able to identify and carry out free surgeries for 13 of them in partnership with Helen Keller, Ubotex and Hensek Integrated Services. For this year, we have so far identified two, we need to help our people”, he said.
He used the occasion to commend Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel and Commissioner for Health, Mr Augustine Umoh for prioritising healthcare development in the state.
He also thanked NTDs Ambassador, Mr Ime Bishop Umoh (aka Okon Lagos) for joining the campaign against Neglected Tropical Diseases in the state.
In a press conference which preceded the walk, the Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Prof Augustine Umoh had identified the ongoing effort to rejuvenate the primary healthcare sector in Akwa Ibom State as one of the steps to tackle NTDs in the state.
Umoh had informed newsmen that 231 Primary Healthcare Centres in Akwa Ibom, were earmarked to benefit from funds made available by the government to revamp the sector.
He blamed NTDs on poverty, poor hygiene and common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), they are prevalent in areas with a high level of poverty, poor sanitation, poor access to potable water supply, poor housing conditions, poor access to qualitative health care services and ignorance.”
He however recalled that in 2019, the Akwa Ibom State NTD programme achieved 75% therapeutic coverage in the five highest burden NTDs, admitted that much work still needed to be done in the area of sensitisation of the general populace on the need for proper environmental sanitation, improved personal hygiene.
He also discouraged open defecation, even as he encouraged drinking of clean and potable water, and reporting early for diagnosis and proper treatment.
In his words, ”Furthermore, to give credence to the giant strides being recorded by the state in the fight against NTDs, in the second week of February,2021,a Pre-Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) was conducted in Uruan LGA (a Lymphatic Filariasis endemic LGA) by the Federal Ministry of Health and the state passed. It is instructive to note that was the first time such an exercise was conducted in the state.
”A similar survey has also been conducted in Eastern-Obolo, Etim-Ekpo and Ikot-Ekpene LGAs in the state about a week ago and it is our hope that when the results are released by the Federal Ministry of Health, the state will still pass.”
He acknowledged the role of the National Coordinator and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH, NTD’s team in providing the needed drugs, support and supervision for the fight to control and eliminate NTDs in Akwa Ibom state.
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