Making Nigeria Guinea Worm-Free

When  the International Certification Team from the World Health Organisation (WHO)  recently visited Nigeria to assess the country’s claim to be guinea worm-free, the media was expected to, among others, substantially raise awareness of guinea worm disease among the populace

Statistics from the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) shows that as at 1988, there were 653,620 reported cases of guinea worm across the country.

According to the statistics, in 2005, only 120 cases of Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) were reported in six states. This shows a reduction of 99,9 percent in 16 years. There was further reduction in 2006.

Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) is caused by a nematode worm, dracunculus medinensis, which grows in the body of an infected person and emerges from different parts of the body after maturity, medical experts say.

They say the disease GWD is prevalent in poverty-stricken areas and contracted by drinking water from ponds or other unprotected or unsafe water sources.

Nonetheless, by 2008, through concerted efforts of NIGEP and other stakeholders, GWD was eradicated in Nigeria while it awaits certification.

Against the foregoing, a media roundtable was recently organised by Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) to expound on the role of the media in the pre-certification activities.

According to Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, the NIGEP Coordinator, the onus lies with the media and other stakeholders to embark on a massive and effective sensitisation and reportage henceforth as the country has limited time for the visit of the International Certification Team (ICT).

She said the populace should be informed on what had been achieved so far, how to identify GWD, where to report it and what they stand to gain from certification.

Any person with a skin lesion (boil/blister) should be suspected to have contacted GWD and should be reported to the nearest clinic, while NIGEP could be contacted on the toll-free number 0800 100 1000.

According to Anagbogu, GWD cuts across the country; it is called kurkunu in Hausa, Sobia in Yoruba and Arikwa mmiri in Igbo, adding that the last case of guinea worm was reported in Nigeria on Nov. 11, 2008.

“Nigeria has maintained a zero GWD status for 54 consecutive months since the last cases were reported in November 2008.

“Our surveillance and publicity targets are to notch up from the current 57 percent to at least 85 per cent timely reporting from all health facilities-public and private, primary, secondary and tertiary in all 774 LGAs in the country.

“We should let at least 80 per cent of the general public in rural and urban areas know about the reward for reporting GWD, which is N25,000 for any confirmed case of guinea worm disease.

“We should let at least all health staff at National, State and Local Government levels know the case definition of GWD and the appropriate response to a suspected case,’’ she said.

All GWD rumours from the general public should be investigated within 24 hours of verbal or written report, while rumours generated during immunisation should also be investigated within 24 hours.

Mr Buki Ponle a veteran journalist and  member of National Certification Committee, said the media could achieve so much within the period, increase the awareness level and influence policy decisions through persuasive reportage.

Ponle noted that further occurrences could be prevented through information sharing thereby raising concerns in poorly performing states and advocating for adequate funding for the programme.

According to Ponle, governors, ministers and other policy makers should be aware of what will be required of states and local governments as Nigeria expects the certification team.

“Our advocacy campaign means the grassroots people are to be increasingly informed to ensure that their actions or inactions do not jeopardise Nigeria’s hope of certification.

“Community leaders, schools and churches as well as community-based associations can be sensitised and mobilised through our activities.

“In order not to give room for mischief makers and adversary stakeholders, our strategies need to be devised to provide accurate and up-to-date information on a continuous basis as selected radio stations and TV stations are being used to air jingles.”

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Kefas Ityonzughul, the WHO Nigeria National Programme Officer, Guinea Worm Disease, stated that the media had always been an integral part of the campaign against GWD in Nigeria.

According to him, there are no more cases of GWD in Nigeria, but there is the need for vigilance in the rural areas.

He said that the emphasis should be shifted to reporting on meeting the certification criteria by engaging on individual and collective efforts at sensitising the people on pre-certification activities.

Contributing, Maureen Eke of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) said there was the need for newsmen to have on-the-spot assessment of areas previously affected by GWD.

She noted that that the two-month time-frame for pre-certification activities was short; hence, the need for a massive enlightenment which should be sponsored by NIGEP.

“There is limited time; there is the need for steady jingles in the media for a wider coverage but this requires money.’’

Another contributor from a leading media outfit, said that the media should engage people at the grassroots level in driving the message.

The journalist said he would “partner with his colleagues at the local government level in educating the people on how to identify GWD and what they stand to gain by identifying and reporting a case of GWD.’’

According to him, grassroots sensitisation should be intensified by engaging town criers and traditional rulers as most people in areas that had not been previously affected could not identify GWD when they see one.

“They could mistake GWD for poison and instead of reporting to the appropriate authorities, the victim may end up in a native doctor’s house.’’

Miss Prudence Eboagwu of Love FM observed that jingles were expensive, but promised to anchor a public enlightenment programme on the pre-certification activities.

Although the media has been a partner in the fight, stakeholders say the burden of the investigation to ascertain the veracity of Nigeria’s claim to be guinea worm free, lies in the media.

As the International Certification Team is being expected, one hopes that the media will play, more than ever before, its social responsibility role as well as its constitutional requirements to finally de-list the country as a guinea worm endemic country.

Okoronkwo,  writes for News Agency of Nigeria.