FG Partners Group
FG Partners Group to End Trachoma
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has said that
partnership and collaboration are essential for delivering the
universal eye health strategy in Nigeria.
Professor Adewole stated this at the closing ceremony of the
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (THE TRUST) yesterday in
Abuja. The TRUST is a Trachoma initiative project poised towards
the elimination of Trachoma in Nigeria in collaboration with the
Federal Ministry of Health.
In his keynote address at the occasion, Professor Adewole who
was represented by the Director, Department of Health Research,
Planning and Statistics (DHRPS), Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, said that
the collaboration which started in March 2014 had supported
surgical interventions and Mass Administration of Medicines in
Katsina, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Yobe States.
This intervention, the Minister informed, had drastically
reduced the number of Nigerians who were at risk of developing
Trachoma from 22million to 13million. He said that the Federal
Government of Nigeria was committed to maintain the momentum and
ensure that the country did not slip backwards.
Adewole further explained that the government had resolved to
eliminate trachoma as a public health problem by providing clean
and safe water across the country; in that water, sanitation and
Hygiene were key components of the intervention.
The Minister commended the stakeholders for their funding to
deliver the surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and
Environmental improvement strategy and Pfizer for ensuring the
provision of all required medicines.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the TRUST, Dr.
Astrid Bonfield narrated that the TRUST was established in 2012 to
create a lasting legacy in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11
as Head of the Commonwealth.
Commending the Nigerian Government, Federal Ministry of Health
and supporting Partners, Bonfield said the main focus of the TRUST
was to channel resources towards supporting Commonwealth
governments to eliminate Trachoma and the avoidable blindness it
caused.
Highlight of the event was a presentation of plaques to
representatives of partners and other stakeholders who participated
in the project: – Sightsavers, Helen Keller International (HKI),
Christophel Blinden Mission (CBM), Health and Development Support
Programme (HANDS) and Mission to Save the Helpless (MITOSATH),
amongst others.
Boade Akinola
Director, Media and Public Relations