Ebonyi Combats Tropical Diseases

The Programme Coor
dinator, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Mr Cletus Igwe, says the Ebonyi government was committed to eradicating tropical diseases in the state.
Igwe told newsmen in Abakaliki that the government in collaboration with the Jimmy Carter Foundation had committed funds to the fight against NTDs, adding that the response to the programme was encouraging.
He said that a number of ad-hoc staff had been trained to complement its officials in the campaign to effectively achieve its mandate.
The coordinator explained that the NTDs programme was aimed at eradicating such diseases which were commonly found in the tropical regions such as hydroxyl, elephantiasis and river blindness among others.
“These diseases are caused by high concentration of worms in the body which develop into health problems.
“The regular administration of some drugs help in eliminating as well as flushing out these worms in the human body before they destroy vital cells,’’ Igwe said.
He said drugs for treatment and control of the tropical diseases such as Ivermetine, Albendazole and Metizan were regularly distributed among the 13 local government areas for effective coverage.
“The NTDs programme has effectively controlled the resurgence of most of these tropical diseases that had ravaged the people.
“It is the intention of the state to completely wipe out all known tropical diseases by sustaining the current efforts.
“We, therefore, urge the people to avail themselves of the ongoing exercise to immunise by going to designated centres to get their drugs free of charge,’’ Igwe added.