World NTDs Day: Kebbi Govt Commends Sightsaver
From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi
Kebbi State government on Thursday joined the rest of the world to celebrate this year world day of Neglected Trophical diseases (NTDs) in Africa and the entire world.
In his speech at the ceremony, the Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Comrade Ismail Yunusa who stood in for the State governor, Nasir Idris expressed that Neglected Tropical Diseases a diverse group of diseases that are common in tropical regions which are the major cause of preventable blindness and disabilities.
Comrade Yunusa expressed further that, in Kebbi State, with the support from sightsaver, it has been possible to eliminate, Trachoma, River blindness, Lymphatic Filarisis, Bilhrzia and Intestinal worms.
He pointed out that only two Local Government Area out of twenty were endemic for lymphatic filarias, one Local government areas is endemic of fourteen LGAs that endemc of trauma, adding that all the nine LGAs that were endemic of River blindness havs been eradicated.
“I want to thank Sightsavers who has supported this programme and the State to achieve this great milestone.
“I want to assure the good people of this State and surpporting partners that the present administration in the State is committed to play our part to unite and eliminate NTDs by supporting its activities.
“I want to also call on the sons and daughters of Kebbi State to join us in this fight to eiminate NTDs as a public Health concern.” He concluded.
In her appreciation speech, the Sightsaver programme coordinator for Kebbi State, Miss Eunice Salamatu Dogo on behalf of sightsaver group expressed profound gratitudes to Kebbi State government for providing it a good environment to play their role in improving the State health care delivery.
Miss Dogo also appreciated members of the State Ministry of Health for their unflinching supports for the past twenty years they have been in the State, as she pleaded her organisation support for the State in another twenty years to come.
The celebration also witness attendance from the staff of World Health Organisation (WHO) .
