The Federal Ministry of Health has said that millions of Nigerians are exposed to tropical diseases like leprosy and rabies.
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The Director of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Morenikeji Alex-Okoh disclosed this.
She said that Nigerians are endemic to 14 of the 20 abandoned tropical diseases stated by the World Health Organisation.
Morenikeji mentioned this at the 2022 Neglected Tropical Diseases Day in Abuja on Friday.
In a statement released by the acting Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Health, Brendan Nwokike, Nigeria is endemic to 14 NTDs.
The diseases we are combating are;
This was disclosed in a statement available to PUNCH.
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The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunmimbe Mamora also said that 120 million Nigerians were at risk of NTDs.
He said, “Over the years, the country has been battling seriously to eliminate most of these tropical diseases using approaches like preventive chemotherapy by conducting mass administration of medicines; morbidity management and disability prevention; integrated vector control; sound sanitation and hygiene practices with safe water supply etc.
“Currently, we are charting a new course of community engagement for tackling the NTDs for sustainability and ownership.
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“Over 120 million Nigerians are at risk of the NTDs. The target of the government is to eliminate all the preventable NTDs and ensure the effective control of case management of the NTDs on or before 2030 by mapping the endemic areas with some of these diseases in all the 774 LGAs in the country, and putting in place policies and guidelines to guide all stakeholders, etc.”
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
