The Zamfara state government in collaboration with Sight Savers has treated over 3 million people living with lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis) across the 14 local government areas in the state.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Health, Aliyu Abubakar, at the occasion to mark the 4th world Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) held in Gusau the state capital.
The commissioner, represented by the permanent secretary Pharmacist Aliyu Maikiyo said “with support of sightsavers, in 2022, over 3 million people in the state were treated for lymphatic filariasis across the 14 local government areas during mass drug administration”.
He revealed that NTD is a major cause of preventable blindness and disability, saying it threatens almost two billion people world wide and can cause severe and lifelong impairment”.
According to him, those affected with NTD (diseases) are usually stigmatized saying that alone can have a devastating impact on the victims or their families.
“The disease not only affect people’s Health but it also take away their opportunities to go to school or earn a living, also the associated stigma can have a devastating impact on those affected as well as their families and communities”.
He maintained that the state government in its efforts to prevent blindness, operated 202 people for tranchomatous across the 14 local government areas in the state “.
“The present administration of Governor Bello Mattawale is committed to improving the health indices in the state through recruitment of qualified health workers to communities where their services are much needed”.
He stressed that the state ministry of health in its resolve to show commitment towards people affected by NTDS has increased budgetary allocation to the NTD program and urged 14 local government to do the same.
