C/River Govt. Mark World Neglected Tropical Disease Day with Road Walk

Iloke Egbe 

The Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health Neglected Tropical Disease unit (NTD) in collaboration with Donor Partners working in the State to eliminate NTD has carried out a road Walk exercise to create more awareness on the prevalence and implications of NTD in the State.

The theme of this year's celebration is Unite, Act, Eliminate NTD's Towards Achievement of the UHC and SDG'S. Commencing the road Walk from the NTD Office, 17 Marian Road to Marian market and  back through Rabana roundabout by IBB road terminating  at the Office, featured distribution of fliers with different inscriptions and samples of the manifest effect of the diseases, announcement of the types of NTD's and preventive methods by Mr Evalsam Azogor. 

Commenting on the outing, the State Coordinator NTD Cross River, Pastor Veronica Mark, expressed satisfaction with the turn out and the success of the campaign which is to increase public awareness on the negative implications of NTD in the State. In her words, we are celebrating NTD's World Day,  2026, which is Neglected Tropical Diseases World Day. It's a celebration that is ongoing in the entire world. Cross River is endemic to about four of these diseases. Lymphatic fluriasis, Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, and the Soil-transmitted Helmatitis.

We are trying to create more awareness because there are lots of persons who are still not familiar or who do not actually know that this disease is affecting persons in Cross River State. And that's why you can see us walking across the streets of Calabar and distributing materials to individuals to see how persons can go through the manuals and understand what we are actually doing.

We want this disease completely out of Cross River State, complete elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases. You may not be too familiar with this disease, but a visit to our various communities, will offer you opportunities to see people suffering, especially in locations where they don't have good roads, no water, and all of that. That's why it's called the disease of the poor.  Some persons have several complications resulting from not taking the medicines that are supposed to be taken.

She informed that her office has the medicines that are required to prevent these diseases in the state and invite those who might need more information about these diseases to visit their office No. 17, Marian road Calabar by Lions Park.

She used the occasion to acknowledge the support of the State Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Students from the University of Calabar and the University Cross River, the Qatar Centre, Evidence Action and UNICEF for their support.

The Poor, Vulnerable and Less Privileged are the Targets of Our Programmes – Chief Henry Egbelo

Iloke Egbe

The Cross River State Coordinator, Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, NG-CARES, Chief Henry Egbelo, has asserted that as a matter of strategy for effective and positive impact on the people, the poor, vulnerable and the less privileged in the society are the primary targets as beneficiaries amongst delivery units and not the drivers of the programme.

He stated this at Dannic Hotel, Ekorinim, Calabar, when he declared open a two-day training workshop for technical staff of the State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU) and other delivery platforms under NG-CARES.

He emphasized that the strength of any programme lies not only in its design but in the capacity of the people implementing it, and alluded that the theme for the workshop, which is *Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Results-Based Performance, Accountability and Sustainable Service Delivery*, aimed at bringing critical stakeholders to a round table for a proper reflection on the status of NG-CARES 2.0 and to update and energize all delivery units to execute their responsibilities timely in accordance with their project plans.

Some of the papers that were presented include: NG-CARES governance structure. Programme reporting, documentation and knowledge management. NG-CARES Independent Verification Agent (IVA) protocol and reimbursement.Tools and techniques for managing stakeholders in development projects. Environmental and Social Safeguard – principles and compliance. Financial Management System and retirement of advances. Public Sector Governance and Civil Service systems. Results-Based project Management and PforR Framework.

In an interview with some participants who admitted that the standard of the workshop was very satisfactory and that the resource persons were also very knowledgeable in the topics they handled, while others affirmed that they have gained much from the training.

The team of eminent facilitators includes a former Permanent Secretary in the State Chief Patrick Agida, Dr. Bethel Ewung, Mr. Fidel Udie, Mr Samuel Terrance and Mr Tony Atah who brought their wealth of professionalism and practical experiences to drive their presentations. 

Some of the delivery platforms that were in attendance were Labour Intensive Public Workfare, State Cash Transfer Unit, Community and Social Development Agency, FADAMA, Medium and Small Enterprises and State Operations Coordinating Unit. All heads of delivery units under NG-CARES were in attendance, as well as technical staff from the units.