The NTDs team in Nigeria led by the National Cordinator and a Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Anyaike, paid an advocacy visit to Living Christ Mission on the 30th of June 2019 where the team met with the Founder and Leader of Living Christ Mission and the Pro-Chancellor of the First Private University in Imo State, His Grace, Rev. Prof Daddy Hezekiah.
The team comprised of State Co-ordinators of the 5 Eastern State Ministries of Health (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo) the Eastern Offices of Jimmy Carter Centre in Abakiliki and Owerri, headed by Dr Emukah, representatives from UNICEF, WHO, USAIDs RTI International and the CEO of Crystalife.
The Advocacy visit was successful. A multidisciplinary NTD team of health professionals will be deployed to Living Christ Headquarters Onitsha in a few weeks time to diagnose and treat persons with NTDs.
Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) is a general term used to describe certain diseases affecting mainly the low and middle income countries.
These eradicable diseases continue to plague some countries of the world including Nigeria. Some conditions that favoured the continued existence of NTDs include poverty, illiteracy, poor awareness of prevention measures, poor social amenities and weak health systems notably in the low and middle income countries.
NTDs include filariasis(transmitted by mosquitoes), Schistosomiasis (River Blindness), Buruli Ulcer (known as Atuere in Igboland), snake bites, Trachoma, Guinea worm, Leprosy, common childhood worms (Hookworm, Whipworm, Threadworms) and a few other diseases
Nigeria is affected by NTDs. The Eastern, Northern and Central parts of Nigeria are endemic for filariasis ad schistosomiasis. Snakes bites are more prevalent in Northern Nigeria while the South-south zones still have leprosy colonies.
International Agencies and Governments which include the Jimmy-Carter Centre, USAIDs, EnVision RTI International, the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria and UNICEF have expert teams of health professionals that provide care to affected communities mostly free of charge. Affected individuals are encouraged to contact their State Ministries of Health for contact information of their respective NTDs Coordinator.
The contact details of the 5 Eastern State NTDs Co-ordinators are as follows:
Abia-08032551877
Enugu – 08037455907
Ebony -08039325146
Anambra – 08068816976
Imo-08037662775
Crystalife will continue to liaise with the States’ Co-ordinators and the International Bodies to advocate for complete eradication of NTDs in Nigeria.