Victor Ayeni
The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to conduct an assessment of the prevalence of some Neglected Tropical Diseases in 20 Local Government Areas of the state as part of efforts to treat and eliminate the diseases in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this, according to a statement on Tuesday, after an awareness walk organised by the Ministry of Health and a Non-Governmental Organisation, Mission to Save the Helpless, to commemorate the 2023 World NTD Day in Alausa, Ikeja.
Abayomi, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam, explained that the assessment will lead to targeted treatments of NTDs such as Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis.
He said, “In view of the 2023 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, Lagos State would like to assess the prevalence of other NTDs, including Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis, which is set to commence in early February in 14 LGAs for Onchocerciasis and six LGAs for Lymphatic Filariasis.
“NTDs are a group of conditions affecting more than a billion people who mostly live in marginalised, rural and poor urban areas and conflict zones. Although preventable and treatable, these diseases continue to cause social and economic consequences.”
On her part, the Executive Director of MITOSATH, Dr. Francesca Olamiju, who was represented by the Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Chidinma Okoronkwo, stated that the organisation would continue to collaborate with the state government and other relevant NGOs to control and eliminate NTDs.
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