Federal Ministry of Health
Federal Ministry of Health
Disaster Prevention: FG Interrupts River
BlindnessTransmission in Endemic States
The Federal Ministry of Health has announced that Onchocerciasis
(River Blindness disease) has been interrupted in Plateau, Nasarawa
and Kaduna States; while transmission of the disease is suspected
to have been interrupted in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Bauchi
States.
Speaking recently, in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi, said that the
implication of this achievement, is that, a total of about 4.2
million persons are no longer in need of Mass Administration of
Medicines for Onchocerciasis in the endemic Local Government Areas
of Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States.
With these achievements, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States in
Nigeria has joined other countries like Columbia, Ecuador,
Guatemala and Mexico in the Americas and Awi Zone in Ethiopia in
the interruption of transmission of River blindness. Uganda also
interrupted River blindness in 15 out of 17 foci.
The Permanent Secretary explained that the impact assessment
exercise carried out in several States using epidemiological and
entomological parameters, following the recommendations of the
National Onchocerciasis Elimination Committee (NOEC) indicates the
interruption of the disease in Plateau, Nasarawa and Kaduna States,
while entomological studies is ongoing to confirm the interruption
in Zamfara, Kebbi, Oyo and Bauchi States.
He informed that nearly all States have maintained a minimum of
65% therapeutic coverage for the last 7 years, while overall
treatment have risen from about 200,000 persons in 1991 to over 70
million by 2018, including people living in conflicts areas.
The results have also shown a reduction of transmission of the
disease in other States. The Local Governments where transmission
of the disease is on-going are conducting a twice – a – year
treatment to fast track the elimination of the disease, he
added.
The Permanent Secretary noted that sustaining the momentum of
the elimination may become more challenging as the clinical
manifestation of the disease become increasingly rare.
In his optimism however, he assured that as the visual
impairment, blindness and severe itching become less and the
fatigue of the treatment sets in, innovative communication strategy
is being employed to ensure that high coverage is maintained until
the disease is eliminated in the Country.
Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by small worms
living in the body. It is transmitted by the bite of a black fly
which is the vector for River blindness.
Manifestations of the disease include severe and troublesome
itching, hanging groin, thick and rough skin and blindness.
The milestones achievement was made possible through the
collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, The Carter
Center, Sightsavers, the respective States Governments, the Local
Governments and the affected Communities.
“The government of Nigeria appreciates the long existing and
strong collaboration with the pharmaceutical industries especially
the Mectizan Donation Programme who has been and still donating
Mectizan tablets free of charge for the elimination of
Onchocerciasis in Nigeria.”
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
Head, Public Relations