By Segun Adewale, Bauchi
The Federal and Bauchi State Governments in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and support from other partners organised a media engagement on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) elimination with a call on Journalists and media practitioners in Bauchi State to strengthen community enlightenment, mobilisation and public awareness towards eliminating the diseases.
The call which was made at a one-day media dialogue for journalists from broadcast, print and online platforms on NTDs elimination was held at Hazibal hotels and suites, Bauchi yesterday.
In her remarks during the workshop, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique stated that poor sanitation and hygiene in rural communities and poverty rate have worsened efforts towards eliminating NTDs in Nigeria.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique who pointed out that poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water are major contributors to the spread of NTDs, urged communities to adopt cleaner and healthier habits to break the vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
According to her, “Poverty is a vicious cycle of ill health and deprivation. When people are poor and live in unclean environments, they are more likely to get sick. When they fall ill, they can’t work and this deepens poverty” .
While stressing the need for improved sanitation and hygiene practices,she enjoined both government and communities to invest in safe water supply, proper waste management, and cleanliness at the household level.
She added that, “We have to strengthen our health system and focus on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) interventions. Media are the eyes, ears, and voice of society — you can create awareness, influence behaviour, and change lives. Behavioural change is not easy, but the media plays a very strong role in achieving it”.
The UNICEF chief also warned against open defecation and unsafe water sources, noting that polluted rivers expose communities to diseases such as River Blindness and other infections transmitted by flies and mosquitoes.
“When we prevent flies and mosquitoes, we prevent several diseases like malaria and dengue. Sanitation, clean water, and timely health-seeking behaviour are key to preventing these illnesses,” she added.
Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator, NTDs, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar, said personal and environmental hygiene were key to preventing NTDs, as most contaminations occur in unhygienic environments, noting that the diseases are both preventable and curable.
She stated that mosquito bites had been identified as one of the causative agents of Neglected Tropical Diseases, explaining that when a person is affected by any of the NTDs, their productivity reduces, marital relationships are affected, and this can lead to depression and even death.
She appealed to media practitioners to support awareness campaigns by amplifying accurate information about the prevention and control of NTDs, adding that enlightenment remains one of the most effective tools for reducing the burden of such diseases in Nigeria.
The Bauchi State Coordinator for NTDs, Mr Haruna Wakili, said eighteen out of the twenty local government areas of the state are affected by one NTD or another. He noted that the state, with support from UNICEF, Mission to Save the Helpless (MITOSATH) and other partners, is making significant efforts towards eliminating the diseases.
He identified the lack of adequate funding as a major setback in the elimination effort, disclosing that the state has now created a budget line for NTD programmes, with the hope that the diseases will be tackled head-on.
