Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr Adamu Umar Sambo has stressed that Trachoma remains the world’s leading cause of blindness and is among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
The Commissioner was speaking on Thursday at the closure of the tracoma trichiasis project and handing over the transition plan to the Government of Bauchi State by Health and Development Support Programme (HANDS).
He stated, “We, as government will put efforts in place to ensure the elimination of all the NTDs by the year 2030.
Represented by the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, the Commissioner stated that “We are gathered here today to celebrate the ‘close out ceremony’ trachoma surgeries in Bauchi state by HANDS and handling over the transition plan to the government of Bauchi state.”
According to him, “The Governor of Bauchi State, Senator BalaAbdulkadir Mohammed is committed to the health and well-being of the people of Bauchi state.
He added that, “Bauchi State Government appreciates your efforts for conducting capacity building to 20 Ophthalmic Nurses on trachomatous trichiasis surgery (TT Surgeon) and training of 40 Health Care Workers (TT Surgeon Assistants), 17,912 Community, Directed Distributors as case finders. 2 Programmatic Supervisors and 2 Technical Supervisors.”
Other supports provided were the establishment of Static Centers in 19 Local Government Areas and the operation of 13,507 patients with trachomatous trichiasis from 2017 to 2023.
“We as government want to assure you that, all your efforts shall never be in vain. It will impress you to know that we are collaborating with other partners like, UNICEF, MITOSATH and Bauchi RUWASSA to eliminate NTDs in Bauchi state,” he added.
Adamu Sambo concluded stating, “Let me use this opportunity to thank FMoH, HANDS, and SIGTHSAVERS international for extending the collaborative hands to the Ministry through the NTDs program and other platforms for the health and well-being of our people. Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm more on the support and commitment of Bauchi State government.”
In a remark, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Hauwa Abubakar commended all the partners for coming together to fight the menace of tracoma and trichiasis in Bauchi state.
She stressed that it is part of the priorities of the Ministry under the leadership of the Coordinating Minister, Prof Ali Pate in fighting NTDs across the country in partnerships.
Hauwa Abubakar on behalf of the Ministry assured that support for effective and efficient healthcare service delivery will continue to be given to the State.
Also speaking, the Director of HANDS, Dr Innocent Emereuwa said that the project which was executed for Seven years from 2027 has achieved tremendous success as it was able to identify and treat many victims of the disease across the state.
He appreciated the support staff who worked tirelessly among the communities stressing that without them, the success will not have been recorded.
Innocent Emereuwa urged the State Government to pick it up from where Sightsavers and HANDS are closing out stressing that efforts must be intensified to fight NTDs in the state.
One of the beneficiaries of the trachoma surgery, Abubakar Badara from Kirfi LGA testified that he was almost going blind before the intervention by the Project which took him for surgery and now, he has regained his full sight.
