A Medical expert says increasing campaign against Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTD is meant to reduce poverty and poverty diseases in the society.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health Banji Ajaka stated this while addressing journalists on the importance of NTD Day to the society in Akure. The theme for 2022 campaign is “Achieving Health Equity to End the Neglected Poverty Related Diseases.”
He also explained that the NTD diseases were called neglected because little or no attentions are paid to them compared to other diseases like Lassa fever, malaria, HIV, COVID-19. According to him, those affected with diseases like elephantiasis, helminth and others can no longer work to earn a living thus subjecting them to live in abject poverty.
The Commission noted that health workers were doing similar sensitisations simultaneously in other local government areas of the state on the negative impact of such diseases.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary of Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Francis Akanbiemu, said the diseases could cause permanent disability in their victims. He also advised residents to report any strange occurrence in their body system to health facilities.
Also, the Director Medical Services of the agency Paulinus Omode stated the campaign was to sensitise the people on how to prevent contracting the diseases.
