Iloke Egbe
The Cross River State Ministry of Health through the Department of Public Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program in collaboration with Evidence Action present 2024 impact assessment report on Schistosomiasis (STH) and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (SCH) carried out in the 18 LGAs of the State.
The one day event held at the conference hall of Essential Drugs Program, Barrack's road Calabar aimed amongst others to update stakeholders on the achievements recorded within the period, opportunities available and the way forward and to elicit feedback from the public.
In a detailed power point presentation, the senior manager Evidence Action Mr. Tochi Ohaji, reflected on the background and baseline souvey which provided evidence from the program evaluation following a 7 years preventive chemotherapy which strongly suggested a significant rate of 48.5% reduction STH infections and 76.6% rate reduction in SCH among school children in the State.
Mr. Ohaji used the opportunity to call for increased sectoral collaboration to drive improvement in WASH across the State to sustain the high quality preventive chemotherapy which has generated greater gains in STH and SCH prevalence.
He recommended treatment strategies for 2026 onward while referencing World Health Organization recommendations in the reduction of prevalence, and stated some approaches appropriate to address Bakassi LGA which is the only LGA with negative indicators.
Adding her voice, the Program Manager, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis Control and Elimination program in the Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Imaobong Umah, pointed out that WASH and basic hygiene including behavioral change are essential to maintain results already achieved to avoid reemerges of the ugly past and called for stronger synergies and collaborations amongst Stakeholders.
The presentation outline background, methodology, results and conclusion. Lesson learned and acknowledgement. And featured goodwill messages from critical Stakeholders. In attendance were the State Director, Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program Pastor Mrs. Veronica Mark, representative of the Commissioner Ministry of Health and that of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Jonah Offor represented by the Acting Director Public Health Mr Patrick Odu, Civil Society Organizations and none Governmental Organizations.
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