A’Ibom First Lady urges women to be serious about deworming their children

Ini Billie, Uyo

Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Mrs Patience Umo Eno has urged mothers to make the de-worming of their children a serious affair.

De-worming of children against soil-transmitted helminths has a correlation with the prevention of NTDS. The World Health Organization (WHO) say more than 20 of the diseases overwhelmingly afflict people who lack regular access to adequate sanitation, basic health infrastructure and health services.

Speaking on Tuesday in Uyo during the first Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Stakeholders’ Summit, Mrs Eno called for collaboration among critical stakeholders in the fight against NTDs in Nigeria.

She stated that a synergy between Non-Governmental Organisations, the Academia, Governments and other relevant Stakeholders is a guaranteed way to combat the prevalence of (NTDs).

While speaking as the special guest at the summit tagged, “Enhancing Domestic Resource Mobilizations Towards Sustaining the Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Akwa Ibom State”, organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Helen Keller International, Mrs Eno assured the organisers of her constant support whenever the need arises, hoping that the meeting would prompt stakeholders to take meaningful measures in stopping the spread of NTDs.

“Our collective knowledge and expertise will be vital in shaping a future where these diseases no longer pose significant threats to human life and well-being.

“Let us foster an environment of open-mindedness, empathy and knowledge sharing, recognising the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and the involvement of various stakeholders, including government, academia, NGOs, and the private sector so that significant strides can be recorded in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases,” she stated.

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh said the summit was designed to draw greater attention towards NTDs noting that the diseases are hardly heard about but sadly, they are prevalent and pose serious health challenges in the state.

Prof. Umoh stated that the Ministry of Health in partnership with Helen Keller International has recorded over 314 free surgeries across the three Senatorial Districts in the state in the last 3 years, noting that the government was committed to the well-being of Akwa Ibom people.

He called for partnership from stakeholders from all sectors towards financing and the elimination of these NTDs in the state.

Earlier, Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, NTDs Control and Elimination Programme, Dr Aniekeme Uwah said the essence of the summit was to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to “take a cursory look at how solutions could be proffered to the myriads of challenges confronting the implementation of control and elimination strategies through the identification of gaps, areas of partnership and opportunities for domestic resource mobilization (DRM) to help the most vulnerable population affected by NTDs, which has led to stigmatization, untold hardship and suffering.”

Uwah said the resolutions reached at the end of the Summit will aid the achievement of the goals of the economic blueprint of the state government as contained in the Arise Agenda especially poverty deduction, improved standard of living and highly educated healthy and skilled populace.

He expressed appreciation to the Governor’s Wife for honouring the invitation in person and called on stakeholders to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health towards meeting the global 2030 target of 90% reduction in the number of people required for treatment for neglected tropical disease and elimination.

The Head of Programmes, Helen Keller International, Mohammed Aliyu in a goodwill message said they are present in 12 states in Nigeria with huge investments in curbing NTDs in the country and pledged his organisation’s commitment to sponsoring more surgical operations.