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.
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