The
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Health
Organization, WHO, have commenced a country-wide Mass Drug Administration
Campaign on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD).
The
mass drug administration campaign, according to health officials, would last
for 10 days, targeting children from the age of 2 to 14 years, and would be
conducted within 24 districts in the country.
In
giving an overview of the campaign, Yahya Camara, NTD focal person, said the
mass drug administration is an activity which is part of the initiative to
control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases.
These
diseases, he said, are two main types namely, ECNC disease and tropical
neglected disease, adding that it is one of their intervention areas.
The
purpose of the mass drug administration is to ensure that by the year 2020 they
eliminate the two main targets, that is, Schistosomiasis and soil transmited
helminthiasis.
Camara
added that as a programme under the ministry of health and social welfare, the
NTD programme has developed a master plan and an annual work plan, under which
by the year 2020 they aspired to eliminate this disease.
According
to Mr Camara, they are targeting 203, 000 individuals country-wide for both
diseases, and 60, 000 people would be targeted for soil transminthiasis within
two districts, while more than 134, 000 children for schistosomiasis within 22
districts, totaling 24 districts.
The
director of Health Promotion and Education at the Health ministry, Modou Njai,
said the purpose of the press briefing was to raise public awareness on the
mass drug administration campaign, which kicked off yesterday.
According
to him, during the campaign two drugs would be given to children age 2 to 14
years, and he urged parents to ensure that their children get access to the
drugs.
The
drugs, he noted, are crucial and the vaccination teams would be going into the
schools and within the community.
He
commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) for partnering
with them, thus was optimistic such partnership would continue.
Speaking
on behalf of WHO, Dr Sharmila Lareef Jah said the diseases have been
multiplying in the population and reached a stage where the disease could no
longer be neglected.
The
WHO representative added that the drugs that they are going to give out to the
children during the 10 days campaign are safe, as the drugs were sampled before
giving them out, and they have been using them in many countries.
Sanjally
Trawally, deputy director of Health Promotion, and Iris Cassez from the Life
Skills Education Unit under MoBSE, both dwelt on the signs and symptoms of the
diseases.
