Kogi urged to prioritise provision of portable water to prevent Schistosomiasis
The Kogi State government has been enjoined to prioritise the provision of portable water as access to clean water is essential in the control and prevention of Schistosomiasis.
Jacqueline Badaki stated this during a two-day planning meeting to strategize the Mass Administration of Medicines (MAM) for Schistosomiasis in Ibaji, Kogi and Lokoja local government areas organised by the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Sightsaver and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Badaki, coordinator of Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN), Kogi Chapter, commended Sightsavers’ effort and consistent at providing free drugs and training for health workers and other caregivers, and also emphasised the need for stakeholders’ engagement, robust surveillance and WASH interventions to reduce Schistosomiasis transmission.
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Also, Steven Momoh, permanent secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Health, who declared the meeting open on Tuesday in Lokoja, emphasised the importance of equitable and timely distribution of essential medicines to every child in the targeted LGAs and communities.
“This gathering marks a significant step in our collective effort to strengthen the health supply chain system,” Momoh said.
He highlighted the meeting’s key objectives including: examining logistics gaps, mapping distribution routes, and reviewing accountability mechanisms, as he commends the dedication of field officers and technical teams, and praised the Sightsavers for its commitment to partnering with Kogi towards eliminating NTDs in the state.
He assured of the ministry’s commitment to providing leadership, policy direction, and logistical support for a robust and responsive health supply system in Kogi State.
Hindan Phoebe, Sightsavers NTD programme officer in Kogi, stated that the planning meeting is a platform for reviewing micro plans and developing strategies to distribute Praziquantel to the targeted children aged 5-14 in Ibaji, Kogi, and Lokoja, which are the endemic LGAs involved in the phase of implementation.
“After the planning meeting the team will train teachers and caregivers at local level, and commence medicine distribution from November 17-28, 2025”.
She reaffirmed Sightsavers’ commitment to providing technical support and funding to eliminate Schistosomiasis and other NTDs in Kogi State, as she commends the success recorded since 2014 and expressed optimism about developing a concrete work plan to achieve expected coverage for the 2025 MAM round.
Earlier, Betsy Ibenu, training officer for NTD Unit, Kogi State Ministry of Health, provided an overview of Schistosomiasis, its symptoms, and target groups, adding that the meeting objectives includes developing strategies for achieving 2025 treatment and training targets for Schistosomiasis MAM.
She noted that the meeting will also create a work plan for achieving both geographic and therapeutic coverages, and discussing lessons learned from previous implementations.
Musa Momoh Jimoh, acting state coordinator of NTDs, highlighted challenges from the last MDA, including incorrect dosing, poor documentation, and data integrity issues, adding that the planning meeting is expected to yield a comprehensive distribution plan, ensuring that medicines reach the people who need them, when they need them, and ultimately reducing the burden of Schistosomiasis in Kogi State.
