The Federal Ministry of Health has embarked on advocacy to reduce the increasing rate of River Blindness and Elephantiasis in the country.
A Director from the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Bridget Okeguale explained that the target is to eliminate River Blindness by 2020 and Elephantiasis by 2025 so as to meet the deadline given by the World Health Organisation.
Okeguale said a recent study carried out by the Carter Foundation revealed that while the development partners were helping to fight the diseases, the challenge of distributing the prescribed drugs was hindering effort to tackle the diseases while some of the patients throw the drugs away.
She insisted that the Ministry of Health must take the lead and institute a budget line for neglected tropical diseases.
Three foundations are collaborating with the Ministry to carry out the advocacy; they include Cater Foundation, Emeka Offor Foundation and Yakubu Gowon Foundation.
