Anambra state has joined the rest of the world to mark world Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).
Addressing the media during a press briefing to mark the event in Awka, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala said that NTD’s are preventable communicable diseases prevalent in areas with poor sanitation, inadequate safe water supply and substandard housing conditions and that Nigeria has the biggest burden of the disease in Africa.
Dr. Okpala who thanked Governor Willie Obiano for all his support in tackling the disease in the State, thanked Transition Committee Chairmen, traditional rulers, Presidents’ General for their support in the sensitization as well as participation in all the NTD programmes.
The Anambra state coordinator of Non-Tropical Diseases, Mr. Emmanuel Obikwelu equally thanked the state government and development partners in the fight against the disease and promised that they will continue to do all they could to eradicate the disease.
One of the representatives of the development partners, Mrs Egeonu Attamah, described their collaboration with the state government as fruitful and noted that the state is doing well in the areas of sensitization and eradication of the Non-Tropical Diseases.