NTDs: FCTA flags off 2021 Mass Administration Medicines
By Peter Usman
The Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs unit of the Public Health Department, Health and Human Service Secretariat, HHSS of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA on Tuesday flagged off 2021 Mass Administration Medicine, MAM for the annual treatment of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis diseases in the six Area Councils of FCT.
Christoffel Blinden Mission, CBM in partnership with other organizations, focused the treatment on onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis which is the two of fifteen prioritised NTDs in Nigeria is prevalent in areas that have poor sanitation, inadequate or lack of water sources and substandard housing conditions.
In his remark at the occasion, Deputy Director, Diseases control, Public Health Department, Dr. Abdulrahman Sadiq, who was represented by Pharm. Musa Alhassan, said the essence of the gathering was to mark the commencement of 2021 Mass Administration of Medicines, MAM to kick start the annual treatment of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic filariasis after the flag off ceremony.
Dr. Sadiq recalled that Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs control programme started in the FCT with Onchocerciasis control activities in 1995 and LF in 2004 respectively, adding that CBM and HAND have been in support in the control and elimination of the diseases in the territory.
He said, a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU was signed by the FCT government and development partners shortly before the commencement of the NTDs control activities, but however averred that Lymphatic filariasis disease is now endemic in Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kuje Area Councils while Onchocerciasis or River Blindness is endemic in all the six Area Councils.
According to him, “The significance of the treatment for Onchocerciasis or River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis, LF in the FCT cannot be overemphasized because all the six area councils are endemic for Oncho disease while four area councils are endemic for LF disease”
Also speaking at the flag off ceremony, Acting Secretary of HHSS, Dr. Muhammed Kawu, who was represented by the FCT Epidemiologist, Dr Doris John, said that the control strategy designed by the government to prevent and eliminate these diseases, Mass Administration Medicines, MAM is welcome development.
Dr.John asserted that MAM usually carried out the treatment on the people of the community once a year by administering Ivermectin and Albendazole tablets free of charge.
She revealed that the total number of community members treated for Onchocerciasis disease in 2019 stands at 785,161 while 504,877 community members received treatment for lymphatic filariasis disease respectively.
Dr. John further revealed there was no treatment of the diseases in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the total number of Community Directed Distributors, CDD trained so far in the FCT for MAM is 2,200.
Coordinator, the Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs unit of the Public Health Department, FCT, Mrs. Ogundipe Eunice Bosede, said that Mass Administration of Medicines, MAM, is an annual event aimed at treating Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis diseases in the FCT.
Bosede said the significance of the treatment for Onchocerciasis or River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in the FCT cannot be overemphasized, because all the six Area Councils in the FCT are endemic for Oncho disease, while four area councils are endemic for LF disease.
She stated that the main objective of the flag-off ceremony was to create awareness, sensitize, mobilize, inform and educate the FCT community members on the prevalence and the burden of Onchocerciasis and LF diseases in the territory.
She said, “You can’t just come to any community and begins to administer drugs on the residents without creating awareness, sensitize, mobilize, inform and educate them and they will welcome you, and that is why we are here”
The NTDs Technical Specialist, Christoffel Bliden Mission, CBM, Mr. Joseph Kumbur, in his remark, said that the support of CBM over the years is leading to the eradication of NTDs in the rural communities in the country.
Chief of Kuchingoro, a community along Airport road, Ibrahim Wambi, appreciated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for chosen his community for the event.