Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment towards achieving the Year 2030 World Health Organization deadline for the elimination of some Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Service, Dr Oyebanji Filani, gave this assurance in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day Advocacy visit and meeting of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with Policy Makers for Government’s support towards elimination of NTDs in Ekiti State.

At the programme organized by the Ekiti State primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with the United Nations’ Children Fund, (UNICEF), Dr Filani represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Olusola Gbenga-Igotun, noted that the State government has engaged in many activities and committed financial resources towards eliminating the NTDs by 2030

The Health Commissioner urged the residents of the state to ensure they were properly immunized against some of the NTDs such as Oncocherciasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis, Soil Transmitted Helminths, Trachoma, Buruli Ulcer and other prevalent NTDs in this part of the world.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Capacity Development and Training, Prof. Patrick Tedela, thanked the representatives of the Federal Government and UNICEF for their support noting that Ekiti State government is at the fore front in Health management in the country

In his opening remarks the Director General State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ayodele Seluwa disclosed that Ekiti state has embarked on so many programmes such as water and sanitation hygiene (SURWAH) programme and day to day environmental sanitation aimed at preventing NTDs in the state.

Dr Seluwa noted that neglected tropical diseases have affected so many people in Africa and Nigeria in particular, assuring that with further commitment as well as assistance from the partners, the prevalence of the diseases would be brought to zero in Ekiti by 2030.

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While making his remarks, the UNICEF representative, Mr. Monday Johnson, said UNICEF was always ready to support the state and urged the residents to key into Water, sanitation and hand washing habit stressing that research has shown that access to good water and better hygiene practices are best ways to preventing and eliminating NTDs and most communicable diseases.

The team lead of the representatives of Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Mrs. Imo-Obong Umah urged the Ekiti State government to have a special budget head for the NTDs noting that this would encourage development partners and donors agencies to contribute more.

The Executive Director, – Mission To Save The Helpless (MITOSATH) Dr. Francisca Olamiju who appreciated the Ekiti State Government, Federal Ministry of Health, and UNICEF for organizing the session promised that MITOSATH would assist the State in the task of eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state

“We are particularly pleased that this NTD-WASH Advocacy meeting has come to fruition. We are hopeful that today’s discussions will inspire the state to commit counterpart funding to further strengthen our collective efforts in this battle against NTDs”. Dr Olamiju said.

He encouraged residents to contribute to play their own part so that the state could achieve its targets