Health agencies set to distribute 2m doses of NTDs drug in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa

<h2>Health agencies in Bauchi, Gombe and Jigawa have announced plans to distribute over two million doses of drugs to stem spread of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).</h2>, <p>Aliyu, Coordinator of NTDs addeed that about 441 health workers had been trained on detection and treatment of NTDs across 11 LGAs of Gombe State.</p>, <span>Health agencies set to distribute 2m doses of NTDs drug in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa Credit: OpenWHO)</span>, <p>The states also scaled up sensitisation activities and trained health personnel to enhance surveillance, detection and treatment of the disease. The health officials stated this in separate interviews while responding to a survey on NTDs by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe.</p>, <p>According to Wikipedia, NTDs are a diverse group of tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are cause by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms (helminths).</p>, <p>These diseases are contrasted with the infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. In sub-Saharan Africa, the effect of neglected tropical diseases as a group is comparable to that of malaria and tuberculosis.</p>, <p>Dr Ashiru Abdurrahman, Coordinator, NTDs and Eye Care, Jigawa State Ministry of Health, listed Onchocerciasis, Lymphatic Fillarasis, Soil Transmitted Helmentis, Trachoma and Schistosomiasis, as the five common NTDs.</p>, <p>To control the disease, the Bauchi government has concluded arrangements to distribute 1.9 million doses of drug to curb the disease in the state. Mr Dahiru Mahmoud, Director, Diseases Control, Bauchi State Healthcare Development Agency, said the agency would distribute 1.9 million doses of drugs to children from two to 18 years.</p>, <p>“We also embark on sensitisation to promote of hygiene and sanitation in the society,” he said.</p>, <p>In the same vein, about 441 health workers had been trained on detection and treatment of NTDs a