More than one million children across Kaduna State are expected to receive treatment for Bilharzia, also known as Schistosomiasis, under a Statewide campaign aimed at eliminating one of the Nigeria’s neglected tropical diseases.
This was disclosed at a two-day planning meeting in Kaduna.
Bilharzia remains a silent disease capable of affecting children’s growth, learning and overall wellbeing.
Across rural communities in Kaduna State, many children continue to suffer from the disease.
To reverse the trend, the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, with support from Sightsavers, is finalising plans for a mass drug administration campaign expected to reach over one million school-age children in 167 wards across the State’s 23 Local Government Areas.
The campaign will target children between the ages of five and fourteen in endemic communities.
Senior Programme Officer of Sightsavers, Tabita Kani, said the organisation is providing technical, financial and training support to ensure the campaign is implemented in line with national and World Health Organisation guidelines.
The National Orientation Agency says it will complement the intervention through intensive community mobilisation and public awareness campaigns to ensure the success of the exercise and improve child health across Kaduna State.
The meeting is expected to strengthen preparations for the campaign aimed at removing the financial burn of treating Bilharzia patients from parents and guardians and eliminating the disease among children in Kaduna State.
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