The Federal Ministry of Health has called on Nigerians and government at all levels to support efforts for the eradication of Guinea Worm in a bid to aid the certification of Nigeria as a Guinea Worm free country.
This call was made by the national coordinator of the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, (NIGEP), Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital at a sensitization programme on the disease.
Nigeria is awaiting the certification of the World Health Organization (WHO), in June as the country has continued to record zero cases of guinea worm diseases since 2008.
The national coordinator said all hands must be on deck to eliminate it from the affected localities
Although Nigeria is said to have recorded its last case in 2008,it needed the certification of WHO for it to be pronounced a Guinea Worm free country.
This necessitated this sensitization workshop for field officers from Lagos and Ogun states on proper records ahead of the WHO’S visit.
While explaining that certification by WHO will boost the nation’s health profile, Mrs Anagbogu said that the programme had already put in place sensitive surveillance structure for quick detection of the disease so as to contain it promptly if discovered at all.
Participants at the meeting include epidemiologists, village-based health workers, Disease Surveillance Notification Officers (DSNOS), NIGEP coordinators at the state and local government levels.
Guinea worm disease is a poverty-generating disease caused by poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water. It affects agricultural production adversely, incapacitates affected people and communities.