Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): Ogun Targets 1.4 million School-age Children as Change Agents

By Our Correspondent

The Ogun State Government has described school-age children as agents of change needed in the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the state. 

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker made this known at a Quiz Competition organized for school children across the State in commemoration of the 2022 NTDs Day in Abeokuta. 

Coker, who was represented by the Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Festus Soyinka, said government had identified the provision of adequate education to children about NTDs can help in eliminating the diseases in the country. 

She said that government had continually executed its annual school-based deworming programme aimed at ensuring that at least 80% of pupils and students are  free of worms and not venerable to NTDs, saying the quiz competition, if sustained, would go a long way in scaling up enlightenment in the community. 

"Like you are aware, children are good vanguard for spreading key information and acting as agent of change in the community. If we are able to reach a child, who comes from a family of a least 3 individuals, then our message will get to thier homes. Getting that child's attention regarding NTDs is like catching an entire family", She said. 

The Commissioner added that despite the lack of attention given to NTDs because of the low mortality associated with them, the diseases have negative socioeconomic impact on less privileged people, especially those in thee rural areas. 

 

She added that government on its part would not renege efforts at providing enlightenment about the diseases, calling on stakeholders in the health sector to focus on putting in place more measures towards eardicating them in the State. 

In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Abosede Ogunleye, assured that the collaborations between her ministry would continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and on health issues that affect school-age children in the State. 

On his part, the Unicef Consultant on Water and Sanitation (WASH), Dr. Bisi Orebiyi, said getting the right health and wellness messages across to children at a tender age would have great impact on achieving positive outcomes of public health concerns in the future.

The highpoint of the event was quiz competition for 10 selected secondary schools from the four regions of the state where Remo Divisional High School clinched the first position while Sanni Luba College, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta Grammar School came second and third.